Christopher M. Norris

Dr. Christopher M. Norris is a Professor in the Department of Pharmacology & Nutritional Sciences at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. He serves as Associate Director of the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging (SBCoA) and Co-Director of the Sanders-Brown Intravital Imaging Facility. His research is centered at the intersection of glial biology and neurodegeneration, with a strong emphasis on translating findings from animal models to human disease.

• Department: Department of Pharmacology & Nutritional Sciences
• Center Affiliation: Sanders-Brown Center on Aging
• Joint Faculty: Neuroscience
• Facility Leadership: Co-Director, Sanders-Brown Intravital Imaging Facility

Dr. Norris earned his BA in Psychology from Washington & Jefferson College (1992), MA in Experimental Psychology from Wake Forest University (1994), and PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Virginia (1998). His training laid the foundation for his career in neurodegenerative research.

His primary research interests include Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, reactive astrocyte physiology, Ca²⁺ signaling, calcineurin/NFAT pathway, glutamate regulation, synaptic function, and cerebrovascular dysfunction. His lab employs advanced techniques such as intravital two-photon imaging, brain slice electrophysiology, and viral-mediated gene delivery to dissect astrocytic contributions to neurodegeneration.

The 15 most recent publications reflect a consistent focus on astrocyte-driven mechanisms in dementia, particularly through calcineurin/NFAT signaling. His work spans from molecular and cellular neuroscience to translational studies in rodent and canine models, with an increasing emphasis on human tissue validation. Key themes include neurovascular coupling, synaptic dysfunction, inflammation, and therapeutic targeting of astrocytes.

Dr. Norris has received significant research support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including R01, RF1, and P01 grants. He also benefits from private philanthropy, notably the Hazel Embry Research Trust established by Patti Embry-Tautenhan and Jeffrey Tautenhan to honor a family member lost to Alzheimer’s. This support enables high-risk, high-reward research aimed at novel treatments for dementia.

• NIH R01/RF1 Grants
• NIH P01 Award
• Hazel Embry Research Trust
• Sylvia Mansbach Endowment

Dr. Norris actively mentors graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, including Blaine Weiss, Jenna Gollihue, and Karen Sofía Zuluaga Osorio. His lab is highly collaborative, working with colleagues across the Sanders-Brown Center, Department of Pharmacology, and external partners like Dr. Elizabeth Head at UC Irvine. The Norris Lab investigates astrocytes in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias using human biospecimens, transgenic models, and advanced imaging.