Brenda Bloodgood

Brenda Bloodgood is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neurobiology at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), part of the Division of Biological Sciences. Her research focuses on understanding how neuronal circuits adapt through activity-dependent gene expression, particularly in the hippocampus. She investigates synaptic connectivity changes in response to environmental interactions and their implications for behavior and neurological disorders.

Dr. Bloodgood holds a PhD in Neurobiology from Harvard Medical School (2006) and a BS in Animal Physiology and Neuroscience from UCSD (2001). She is a recipient of prestigious awards including the Searle and Pew Scholars Awards, NIH New Innovator Award, and multiple postdoctoral fellowships.

Her lab employs multidisciplinary approaches such as optogenetics, viral circuit tracing, and electrophysiology to study inhibitory/excitatory neuron dynamics. Key areas include NPAS4-mediated synaptic plasticity, Angelman Syndrome protein Ube3A’s role in synapse development, and calcium signaling in dendritic spines.

Recent work explores electrical signaling in the endoplasmic reticulum, deep learning for in-cell electrophysiology, and novel educational programs for transfer students. Her research bridges molecular mechanisms with circuit-level plasticity, contributing to understanding neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases.