Vivek K. Unni, M.D., Ph.D.
- Associate Professor of Neurology, School of Medicine
- Director, Jungers Center for Neurosciences Research
- John Hammerstad, M.D. Professor of Basic Research of Movement Disorders
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, School of Medicine
Biography
Dr. Unni’s research focuses on understanding the role of the protein alpha-synuclein in the mechanisms of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Multiple lines of evidence suggest that simply increasing levels of this protein by seemingly modest amounts can cause both genetic and idiopathic forms of PD. Dr. Unni uses transgenic models which over-express alpha-synuclein to study how abnormally high levels of this protein cause self-aggregation and neuronal dysfunction in the living brain, using advanced biochemical and in vivo multiphoton imaging techniques.
Education and training
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Degrees
- Ph.D., 2003, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons
- M.D., 2003, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons
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Residency
- Neurology, Brigham & Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, 2007
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Fellowship
- Movement disorders, Brigham & Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, 2008
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Certifications
- American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, 2008
Memberships and associations:
- American Academy of Neurology
Publications
Elsevier pure profilePublications
Alpha-synuclein modulates the repair of genomic DNA double-strand breaks in a DNA-PKcs-regulated manner
Neurobiology of DiseaseBasic Science and Pathogenesis
Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's AssociationEffects of Paraquat, Dextran Sulfate Sodium, and Irradiation on Behavioral and Cognitive Performance and the Gut Microbiome in A53T and A53T-L444P Mice
GenesAge, sex, and apolipoprotein E isoform alter contextual fear learning, neuronal activation, and baseline DNA damage in the hippocampus
Molecular PsychiatryCells with cFos and 53BP1 immunoreactivity in the CA1 region of the hippocampus from a young female apolipoprotein E4 (apoE) targeted replacement mouse 1.5 h after fear conditioning
Molecular PsychiatryAggregated Alpha-Synuclein Inclusions within the Nucleus Predict Impending Neuronal Cell Death in a Mouse Model of Parkinsonism
International journal of molecular sciencesCommon cancer treatments targeting DNA double strand breaks affect long-term memory and relate to immediate early gene expression in a sex-dependent manner
OncotargetInfusion of etoposide in the CA1 disrupts hippocampal immediate early gene expression and hippocampus-dependent learning
Scientific ReportsPhosphorylation of the aggregate-forming protein alpha-synuclein on serine-129 inhibits its DNA-bending properties
Journal of Biological ChemistryEffects of Alpha-Synuclein Targeted Antisense Oligonucleotides on Lewy Body-Like Pathology and Behavioral Disturbances Induced by Injections of Pre-Formed Fibrils in the Mouse Motor Cortex
Journal of Parkinson's DiseaseGenetic deletion of Polo-like kinase 2 reduces alpha-synuclein serine-129 phosphorylation in presynaptic terminals but not Lewy bodies
Journal of Biological ChemistryIn vivo aggregation of presynaptic alpha-synuclein is not influenced by its phosphorylation at serine-129
Neurobiology of DiseaseTrans-synaptic and retrograde axonal spread of Lewy pathology following pre-formed fibril injection in an in vivo A53T alpha-synuclein mouse model of synucleinopathy
Acta Neuropathologica CommunicationsAlpha-synuclein is a DNA binding protein that modulates DNA repair with implications for Lewy body disorders
Scientific ReportsMulticolor lineage tracing using in vivo time-lapse imaging reveals coordinated death of clonally related cells in the developing vertebrate brain
Developmental BiologyG2019s-LRRK2 expression augments α-synuclein sequestration into inclusions in neurons
Journal of NeuroscienceCurcumin treatment improves motor behavior in α-synuclein transgenic mice
PloS oneMutations in XPR1 cause primary familial brain calcification associated with altered phosphate export
Nature geneticsProgressive Aggregation of Alpha-Synuclein and Selective Degeneration of Lewy Inclusion-Bearing Neurons in a Mouse Model of Parkinsonism
Cell ReportsPresynaptic alpha-synuclein aggregation in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease
Journal of NeuroscienceSpecific splice variants are associated with Parkinson's disease
Movement DisordersGuidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy
AutophagyAssociation of SNCA with Parkinson
Movement DisordersDistinct roles in vivo for the Ubiquitin-Proteasome system and the Autophagy-Lysosomal Pathway in the Degradation of α-Synuclein
Journal of NeuroscienceStudying protein degradation pathways in vivo using a cranial window-based approach
MethodsIn vivo imaging of α-synuclein in mouse cortex demonstrates stable expression and differential subcellular compartment mobility
PloS oneCalcium release from presynaptic ryanodine-sensitive stores is required for long-term depression at hippocampal CA3-CA3 pyramidal neuron synapses
Journal of NeuroscienceEssential roles in synaptic plasticity for synaptogyrin I and synaptophysin I
Neuron