Rochelle Hines

Rochelle Hines, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Her laboratory investigates how inhibitory synapses form, stabilize, and malfunction during brain development, with the overarching goal of identifying novel therapeutic avenues for autism, schizophrenia, and developmental epilepsies.

Education

• Ph.D. in Neuroscience, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada (2009)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA (2015)

Research Interests

Dr. Hines’s research integrates molecular genetics, biochemistry, high-resolution microscopy, behavioral phenotyping, and electrophysiology to dissect the mechanisms governing inhibitory synapse maturation. By manipulating key synaptic proteins in mouse models, her team interrogates how disruptions in inhibitory signaling contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders.

Core themes include:

• Molecular scaffolding of GABAergic synapses via collybistin and neuroligin-2
• Functional specialization of GABA(A) receptor subunits in cortical and hippocampal circuits
• Translational biomarkers and therapeutic targets for epilepsy and autism

Publication Trends

Across 38 peer-reviewed articles since 2006, Dr. Hines’s work has progressed from fundamental discoveries in synaptic protein trafficking to preclinical evaluations of pharmacological modulators (e.g., TSPO ligands, micronized caffeine). Recent high-impact studies (2021–2025) emphasize multi-system analyses combining EEG, behavioral, and molecular readouts to bridge cellular mechanisms with circuit-level dysfunction.

Laboratory & Collaborations

The Hines Group at UNLV houses state-of-the-art facilities for confocal and electron microscopy, in vivo EEG/EMG recordings, and mouse behavioral testing. Active collaborations span Tufts University, University of British Columbia, and international consortia focused on neurodevelopmental genomics and bio-electronic therapeutics.

Funding & Grants

While specific grant identifiers are not listed, the consistent publication output and patent filings (e.g., therapeutic compounds for neurodevelopmental disorders, 2025) indicate sustained extramural funding from NIH, NSF, and private foundations.