Programs
Departments & Divisions
Institutes & Centers
Currently seeking Ph.D. students
Jason O'Connor, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
My laboratory is interested in understanding the complex interactions between the immune system and the brain, with an emphasis on inflammation-induced neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental diseases. We have identified the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan metabolism as an important mediator of the effects of proinflammatory factors in the brain, including microglial activity, neuronal architecture, behavior and cognition. Currently, projects in the lab are exploring the (1) effects of neurotoxic kynurenine metabolites on depressive behaviors and cognitive function (2) the neurodevelopmental consequences of prenatal inflammation (3) and the role of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor in regulating neuroinflammation.
-
Professional Background
Education
- 2007 - Postdoctoral Fellowship - Nutritional Sciences - Ruth L. Kirchstein NRSA Postdoctoral Fellowship
- 2005 - PhD - Animal Sciences - University of Illinois
- 1999 - BS - Agriculture - Animal Science (High Honors) - University of Illinois
Appointments
- 9/2017 - Associate Professor - The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, School of Medicine, Pharmacology, San Antonio
- 2/2014 - Research Health Specialist - South Texas Veteran's Health Care System - Audie L. Murphy VA HospitalSan Antonio
- 6/2010 - Assistant Professor - The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, School of Medicine, Pharmacology, San Antonio
- 6/2010 - Member - The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, San Antonio
- 6/2010 - Faculty Member - The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Mood Disorders Translational Core Center, Mood Disorders Translational Core Center, San Antonio
-
Instruction & Training
- 4/2017 - Present, Masters' Thesis Directed, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
- 8/2016 - Present, Research, The University of Texas Health Science Center
- 8/2016 - Present, Pharmacological Principles in Physical Therapy, The University of Texas Health Science Center
- 8/2016 - Present, Dissertation, The University of Texas Health Science Center
- 6/2015 - Present, Membership on Supervising Committee, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
- 2/2015 - Present, Pre-Doctoral Student Supervision, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
- 1/2015 - Present, Pharmacology II, The University of Texas Health Science Center
- 1/2015 - Present, PHAR5031 - Principles of Pharmacology and Physiology
- 8/2014 - Present, Innovatioin in Teaching Methods, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
- 8/2014 - Present, Pharmacology Seminar, The University of Texas Health Science Center
- 7/2014 - Present, Pre-Doctoral Student Supervision, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
- 6/2014 - Present, Undergraduate Student Supervision, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
- 6/2012 - Present, Biological Bases of Brain Function, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
- 8/2011 - Present, IBMS 6090 Neuroscience Seminar, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
- 8/2011 - Present, IMGP/IBMS 7010 Neuroscience Journal Club and Presentation, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
- 8/2011 - Present, Fundamentals of Neuroscience II, The University of Texas Health Science Center
- 8/2011 - Present, Fundamentals of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center
-
Research & Grants
-
Publications
- Brain-derived neurotrophic factor and inflammation in depression: Pathogenic partners in crime?
- Suicidal Ideation Across Three Timepoints in Patients Discharged from Psychiatric Hospitalization
- Chronic Unpredictable Stress Alters Brain Tryptophan Metabolism and Impairs Working Memory in Mice without Causing Depression-Li
- Advancing Autism Research From Mice to Marmosets: Behavioral Development of Offspring Following Prenatal Maternal Immune Activat
- Brain derived neurotrophic factor deficiency exacerbates inflammation-induced anhedonia in mice
- Neuroinflammation and the Kynurenine Pathway in CNS Disease: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications
- Non-toxic HSC Transplantation-Based Macrophage/Microglia-Mediated GDNF Delivery for Parkinson's Disease