凯瑟琳·威尔金森

A Sense of Position: Motor Behavior

Human motor behaviors are complex. We require a perpetual sense of how our bodies are positi一个d in space to coordinate our movements. Specialized neurons in muscles sense length and movement, thus creating movement awareness, or proprioception.

凯瑟琳·威尔金森 studies sensory input during proper proprioception, as well as conditions leading to problems with balance and movement, and her research has made 两方面的进展. In collaboration with the Patapoutian Lab at the Scripps Research Institute, she pinpointed a mechanically sensitive ion channel that is necessary 对于拉伸灵敏度.

“These findings could help identify therapeutics for proprioceptive disorders, and help develop better sensors for prosthetic limbs or robots.”

Wilkinson’s lab is operated entirely by students. Four of her former students are 在Ph值.D. programs, and two more have accepted offers to start Ph.d在秋天. 她的 lab alum have g一个 on to medical, pharmacy, and dental schools, as well as to careers 在生物技术公司.

Wilkinson expresses gratitude for her own mentors.

“I was encouraged to pursue undergraduate research by my freshman biology professor, and given a chance in my physiology professor’s lab,” she says. 她的博士后导师 was especially helpful, working with her “to develop a technique and research agenda that I could implement successfully at 菠菜网lol正规平台.”

Alexandra Salazar, ’20 Molecular Biology, Sarah Chu, ’20 Microbiology, and Nikola Klier, ’20 Molecular Biology, at work preparing for an experiment. 莎拉(中心) is dissecting the muscle and nerve that will be used to record sensory neuron firing rates in response to stretch. Alex (front) and Nikola (back) are taking notes in the lab notebook and preparing the rigs for the experiment.

Biological 科学s, College of 科学
Sponsor: National Institutes of Health

菠菜网lol正规平台 研究基金会 2019 年度报告