معرفی
Harley T Kurata is an Associate Professor at the University of Alberta focusing on ion channel mechanisms in neurological disorders, particularly epilepsy and chronic pain.
His educational background includes:
- BSc from the University of British Columbia (1999)
- PhD from the University of British Columbia (2004)
Dr. Kurata's research centers on two primary themes: (1) modulation of voltage-gated potassium channels (KCNQ/Kv7) for epilepsy treatment through drugs like retigabine, and (2) regulation of Kv1.2 channels in multi-protein complexes involving Slc7a5. His work combines molecular pharmacology, biophysics, and genetics to understand seizure mechanisms and develop novel therapeutics for drug-resistant epilepsy.
Analysis of his 12 recent publications (2015-2022) reveals consistent focus on potassium channel structure-function relationships, epilepsy pathophysiology, and drug-channel interactions. His research demonstrates how channel mutations alter electrophysiology and how regulatory proteins modulate drug efficacy, bridging basic science with clinical applications.
Dr. Kurata actively mentors graduate students and leads a research team comprising a technician (Yubin Hao), research associate (Richard Kanyo), postdoctoral fellow (Shawn Lamothe), and graduate students. His laboratory operates from the Li Ka Shing Centre at the University of Alberta.
