Gleb Shumyatsky

Gleb Shumyatsky is a Professor in the Department of Genetics at Rutgers University's School of Arts and Sciences. His research focuses on the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying learning, memory, fear, and social behaviors, particularly maternal care. He investigates neural circuitry involving the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex, with a strong emphasis on synaptic and nuclear responses to experience.

His research interests include:

• Molecular neuroscience of fear and memory
• Amygdala-enriched gene function (e.g., stathmin, GRP, ZnT3)
• Neural circuitry of affective and social behaviors
• Genetic basis of psychiatric disorders such as PTSD and anxiety
• Synaptic plasticity and gene regulation in threat memory

The recent publications highlight a consistent focus on identifying key molecular players in fear regulation and their implications for mental health. His work demonstrates how genes like stathmin serve as critical regulators of both learned and innate fear, offering potential pharmacological targets for anxiety and panic disorders. The research spans molecular biology, behavioral genetics, and systems neuroscience, using rodent models to dissect conserved mammalian behaviors.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Key Advance in the Study of PTSD (SAS News, November 24)

Dr. Shumyatsky leads an active research laboratory and advises students and researchers in the field of behavioral genetics and neuroscience. His work is supported by ongoing research grants, though specific funding sources are not listed in the text. He has published foundational work on amygdala-enriched genes and their roles in synaptic plasticity and behavior.

He is the principal investigator of the Shumyatsky Lab, which studies cortico-limbic neural projections and intracellular signaling events in neurons related to threat memory and social behaviors. The lab employs molecular, genetic, and behavioral approaches in rodent models to uncover mechanisms of emotional regulation.