Roger J. Colbran

Roger J. Colbran, PhD, is a Professor and Vice Chair in the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. His research focuses on calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and its roles in synaptic signaling, neuropsychiatric disorders, and neurological conditions. His lab investigates mechanisms of synaptic plasticity, particularly in the striatum and hippocampus, with implications for learning, memory, and disease.

Key affiliations include the Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, and Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research. His work integrates biochemistry, electrophysiology, and proteomics to study CaMKII interactions with receptors (e.g., NMDA, voltage-gated calcium channels) and signaling pathways (e.g., endocannabinoids, phosphatase regulation).

Recent articles highlight CaMKII’s role in striatal sociability, nuclear signaling via Shank3 interactions, and ASD-related mutations. His lab’s multidisciplinary approach bridges basic neuroscience with translational research on disorders like addiction and neurodegeneration.