Carey D. Balaban, PhD

The primary goal of Dr. Balaban's research has been to develop a rational basis for understanding the neurobiology of the vestibular system so that new therapies for vestibular disorders can be designed. This goal is approached by: (1) identifying the organization of central vestibular circuits that mediate autonomic and somatic motor responses to vestibular stimulation; (2) identifying neurotransmitters and intracellular signal transduction proteins that are important in these brain circuits; (3) examining the role of these biochemical constituents in responses to challenges from toxins and mechanical (blast) injury; and (3) identifying contributions of these mechanisms to the clinical linkage among balance disorders, anxiety disorders (panic with agoraphobia) and migrainous vertigo. These studies have a strong translational component through interactions with Drs. Joseph Furman, Rolf Jacob, Dawn Marcus, Susan Whitney, John Durrant and Mark Redfern.

Current studies include: (1) the use of neuronal tracers (including fluorescent retrograde tracers and biotinylated dextran amine) to identify the modular organization of vestibular circuits that mediate vestibulo-ocular reflexes, vestibulo-autonomic responses and the linkage between vestibular, pain (migraine) and anxiety pathways; (2) electrophysiological studies of motion-related responses of parabrachial nucleus neurons in alert primates; (3) analyses of the functional organization of serotonergic projections to the vestibular nuclei; (4) studies of changes protein and mRNA expression in the inner ear ganglion cells after chemical challenges to the inner ear; (5) development of real-time human postural control metrics that reflect cognitive event parsing, (6) analyses of emotional expression from thermal images and postural metrics, (7) quantitative modeling studies of subjective responses to oral irritants and (8) translating neural principles into operations research approaches for homeland security and defense applications (through the Center for National Preparedness).

Trainees in Dr. Balaban's laboratory will have the opportunity to apply a variety of anatomical, neuropharmacological, electrophysiological and cellular/molecular methods to study vestibular function. These methods include state-of-the-art tract tracing methods, immunohistochemical methods, quantitative PCR, in situ hybridization, computer, electrophysiology, and a variety of standard and non-standard mathematical modeling and signal analysis methods. Intellectual training includes exposure to regular group meetings that discuss translation of basic findings into clinical practice and other cross-disciplinary applications.