معرفی
Dr. Susan Wray is a Senior Investigator at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health (NIH). She leads the Cellular and Developmental Neurobiology Section and holds leadership roles in the International Society of Neuroendocrinology (Council Member) and American Neuroendocrine Society (Founding Member). Her career spans over three decades at NIH, beginning as a postdoctoral fellow at NICHD in 1992 before establishing her independent research group.
Research Focus: Dr. Wray's laboratory investigates fundamental mechanisms in neuroendocrine development, with emphasis on:
- Migration and differentiation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons
- Craniofacial development and olfactory axon guidance
- Intracellular signaling controlling neuroendocrine cell motility
- Regulation of pulsatile GnRH secretion in reproductive states
Her recent publications (2020-2023) demonstrate strong focus on genetic determinants of pubertal disorders (e.g., POU6F2, PLXNB1 mutations), neurotransmitter regulation of GnRH neurons (dopamine, acetylcholine), cytoskeletal dynamics in migrating neurons, and novel signaling pathways like nitric oxide-PIP2 interactions. These studies consistently bridge molecular mechanisms with reproductive pathophysiology.
Trainees and Lab: Dr. Wray actively mentors early-career researchers including postdoctoral scientists, graduate students, and postbaccalaureate fellows. Her Cellular and Developmental Neurobiology Section employs multidisciplinary approaches from electrophysiology to single-cell genomics.
