Faculty and Staff

David S. Middlemas, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Department of Pharmacology

Ph.D.: California Institute of Technology, 1987

Research Interests: Dr. Middlemas is interested in the role brain-derived neutrophic factor (BDNF) has in the mechanism of drug action. BDNF activates cellular signaling pathways via its receptor, the protein tyrosine kinase, TrkB. Of particular interest, BDNF may be required for antidepressant drug action.

Dr. Middlemas is interested in whether there are differences in the mechanism of action of antidepressant drugs in children and adults. The developing nervous system of juveniles may respond differently to these drugs than the adult nervous system. Using a juvenile rat model, the laboratory is investigating whether antidepressant drugs induce neurogenesis and whether brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is required for antidepressant drug action. These studies also focus on the role of specific BDNF signaling pathways previously identified by the laboratory in antidepressant drug action. The goal is to increase our understanding of antidepressant drug action in the developing nervous system and identify targets for antidepressant drug discovery in juveniles.