Andrea Zsombok, PhD

Professor

School of Medicine
Physiology
Tulane Center Aging
Diabetes Research
Debakey
Andrea Zsombok, PhD

Education & Affiliations

PhD: Comparative Neurobiology Program, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary (2002)
Postdoctoral Training: Dept. of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA (2004-2006)
Postdoctoral Training: Dept. Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA (2006)
Postdoctoral Training: Dept. Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY (2006-2009)

Areas of Expertise

Regulation of autonomic functions
Hypothalamic and brainstem ciruits
Diabetes and obesity
Synaptic function and plasticity
Viral tracing

Research

Dr. Zsombok’s laboratory focuses on the understanding of brain circuits involved in the regulation of visceral organ functions in health and metabolic disorders. The laboratory investigates hypothalamic and brainstem circuits that control metabolism (e.g., glucose metabolism) and examines synaptic organization and plasticity of neurons within a given circuit (e.g., brain-liver). Ongoing research focuses on transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) and its contribution to glucose metabolism. Her laboratory uses electrophysiological as well as anatomical, immunostaining, retrograde tracer approaches in combination with pharmacogenetic and optogenetic approaches. Dr. Zsombok is a member of the Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane Center for Aging and Tulane Hypertension and Renal Center of Excellence. 

Lab Members:

Roslyn Davis - lab research technician

Adrien JR Molinas – postdoctoral fellow

 

Contributions

PubMed listing for Andrea Zsombok, PhD

  • The effects of diabetic conditions on the brain
  • Regulation of different visceral functions including glucose homeostasis with the central nervous system