Dax Aaron Hoffman

Roles and Affiliations: Dax Hoffman is a Senior Investigator and Head of the Section on Molecular Neurophysiology and Biophysics at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), part of the NIH. His laboratory focuses on understanding the role of ion channels in neuronal function and disease.

Education: PhD in Neuroscience from Baylor College of Medicine (1999). Postdoctoral training at the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Germany (studying synaptic plasticity).

Research Interests: Investigates how ion channels (e.g., Kv4.2, DPP6) regulate dendritic excitability and synaptic plasticity in hippocampal neurons. Key areas include Alzheimer’s disease, autism spectrum disorders, and Fragile X syndrome. Uses mouse models to study pathophysiological mechanisms linked to synaptic dysfunction.

Publications Trends: Recent work emphasizes the role of ion channel dysregulation in neurodegenerative and developmental disorders, with a focus on mouse models and cellular mechanisms underlying synaptic deficits. Key topics include DPP6 knockout effects on Alzheimer’s pathology and Kv4.2’s role in cognitive flexibility.

Awards: No specific awards listed in the provided texts, though his sustained research contributions are notable.

Advising & Grants: Oversees graduate students via NIH’s Graduate Partnership Program with institutions like Johns Hopkins University and University of Maryland. Lab members include researchers studying neurophysiology, biochemistry, and electrophysiology.

Labs/Teams: Leads an interdisciplinary team at the NIH, integrating molecular, cellular, and computational approaches to study neuronal dysfunction and disease mechanisms.