معرفی
Gordon MG Shepherd, MD, PhD is a Professor of Neuroscience at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, where he leads a research laboratory focused on neural circuit organization in motor-frontal cortex. His work bridges cellular, synaptic, and systems neuroscience to understand the neural basis of motor control, executive functions, and working memory.
Dr. Shepherd's research interests center on elucidating the functional 'wiring diagrams' of neocortical neurons in motor-frontal cortex. His laboratory applies multiple tools of quantitative synaptic circuit analysis, including laser scanning photostimulation microscopy based on glutamate uncaging and channelrhodopsin-2 excitation. His team investigates circuit-level mechanisms in mouse models of disease, including autism, Rett syndrome, epilepsy, and motor neuron diseases. They also develop software tools for imaging and electrophysiology applications (www.scanimage.org, www.ephus.org).
His research portfolio demonstrates a consistent focus on cortical connectivity, synaptic organization, and motor control systems. The articles reflect an evolution from basic circuit mapping to increasingly sophisticated multiscale modeling approaches that integrate cellular, circuit, and behavioral data. His work spans molecular, cellular, and systems neuroscience with strong translational implications for neurological disorders.
Dr. Shepherd has received significant recognition for his contributions to neuroscience:
- Javitz Neuroscience Investigator Award, NIH, NINDS (2023)
- Research Award, Evans Foundation (2011)
- Albert and Ellen Grass Faculty Award, Grass Foundation (2008-2010)
- Member, MBL Society (2010)
Professionally, Dr. Shepherd serves as Associate Editor for Science Advances (2019-present) and on several editorial boards. He has held leadership positions including Chair of the Society for Neuroscience (2012) and serves on scientific advisory boards for the Emory-Udall Parkinson's Disease Center and NINDS. His laboratory contributes to the Northwestern University Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program (NUIN), which trains 20-25 PhD students annually through a six-year program involving laboratory rotations and thesis research.
Dr. Shepherd's laboratory maintains active collaborations and develops computational tools that support neuroscience research community-wide. His work on cortical cells, circuits, and signals aims to understand the cellular mechanisms for motor control in behaving animals and how these are affected in neurological diseases that impair sensorimotor function.
