David Glanzman

David Glanzman is a Professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), holding dual appointments in the Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology (College of Letters and Science) and the Department of Neurobiology (David Geffen School of Medicine). His research focuses on the cell biology of learning and memory in Aplysia californica and zebrafish (Danio rerio), emphasizing synaptic plasticity, epigenetic mechanisms, and RNA-mediated memory transfer.

• B.A. in Psychology, Indiana University Bloomington (1973)
• Ph.D. in Psychology, Stanford University (1980)

Glanzman's work on Aplysia investigates how RNA-induced nuclear changes and DNA methylation contribute to memory maintenance, challenging traditional synaptic plasticity models. His zebrafish studies leverage genetic tractability and optogenetics to explore nonassociative learning and associative memory circuits. Recent publications highlight the RNA-based memory storage and epigenetic engrams in invertebrates.

Key scientific contributions include:

• Discovery of RNA's role in memory reinstatement (eLife, 2017)
• Elucidation of DNA methylation's critical function in memory persistence (eNeuro, 2018)
• Development of zebrafish models for sensitization (eNeuro, 2020)
• Identification of KIBRA-mediated PKM stabilization (J. Neuroscience, 2011)

Glanzman's laboratory has trained numerous researchers in cellular and molecular neuroscience, contributing to understanding memory consolidation and neural injury responses. His work intersects with neurogenetics, neuroethology, and cognitive theory.