Faculty Appointments
Assistant Professor of Pharmacology
Education
Ph.D., Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, CaliforniaM.S., Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California
Research Description
The brain is comprised of a diverse set of molecules, cells, and circuits that facilitate neuronal communication to generate a complex array of behaviors. Cell death and genetic changes accompanying neurological disease and aging can have a profound impact on the ability of cells to communicate, yet critical questions remain regarding the mechanisms by which these changes occur and how to ameliorate or prevent them. Ultimately, molecular and circuit dysfunction underlie all neurological disorders.
The Nguyen Lab aims to bridge our understanding of neural function and dysfunction at the level of molecules, cells, circuits, and behavior. We utilize techniques such as slice electrophysiology, in vivo silicon probe recording, 2-photon imaging, closed-loop optogenetics, EEG recording, and computational modeling in mice for our investigations.
A central focus of the lab is to understand mechanisms of hyperexcitability in the brain. Aberrant firing of neurons underlies many neurological disorders such as epilepsy. We have an interdisciplinary group of collaborators, including biochemists and bioengineers who develop tools to aid our basic science investigations as well as clinicians who help translate our basic insights from mouse to humans.
The Nguyen Lab aims to bridge our understanding of neural function and dysfunction at the level of molecules, cells, circuits, and behavior. We utilize techniques such as slice electrophysiology, in vivo silicon probe recording, 2-photon imaging, closed-loop optogenetics, EEG recording, and computational modeling in mice for our investigations.
A central focus of the lab is to understand mechanisms of hyperexcitability in the brain. Aberrant firing of neurons underlies many neurological disorders such as epilepsy. We have an interdisciplinary group of collaborators, including biochemists and bioengineers who develop tools to aid our basic science investigations as well as clinicians who help translate our basic insights from mouse to humans.
Research Keywords
Epilepsy, neural circuits, neuronal excitability, ion channels, calcium imaging, synaptic physiology
Publications
Jamiolkowski RM, Nguyen QA, Farrell JS, McGinn RJ, Hartmann DA, Nirschl JJ, Sanchez MI, Buch VP, Soltesz I. The fasciola cinereum of the hippocampal tail as an interventional target in epilepsy. Nat Med [print-electronic]. 2024 May; 30(5): 1292-9. PMID: 38632391, PMCID: PMC11108783, PII: 10.1038/s41591-024-02924-9, DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-02924-9, ISSN: 1546-170X.
Nguyen QA, Klein PM, Xie C, Benthall KN, Iafrati J, Homidan J, Bendor JT, Dudok B, Farrell JS, Gschwind T, Porter CL, Keravala A, Dodson GS, Soltesz I. Acetylcholine receptor based chemogenetics engineered for neuronal inhibition and seizure control assessed in mice. Nat Commun. 2024 Jan 1/18/2024; 15(1): 601. PMID: 38238329, PMCID: PMC10796428, PII: 10.1038/s41467-024-44853-8, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44853-8, ISSN: 2041-1723.
Klein PM, Parihar VK, Szabo GG, Zöldi M, Angulo MC, Allen BD, Amin AN, Nguyen QA, Katona I, Baulch JE, Limoli CL, Soltesz I. Detrimental impacts of mixed-ion radiation on nervous system function. Neurobiol Dis [print-electronic]. 2021 Apr; 151: 105252. PMID: 33418069, PII: S0969-9961(21)00001-2, DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105252, ISSN: 1095-953X.
Chen R, Gore F, Nguyen QA, Ramakrishnan C, Patel S, Kim SH, Raffiee M, Kim YS, Hsueh B, Krook-Magnusson E, Soltesz I, Deisseroth K. Deep brain optogenetics without intracranial surgery. Nat Biotechnol [print-electronic]. 2021 Feb; 39(2): 161-4. PMID: 33020604, PMCID: PMC7878426, PII: 10.1038/s41587-020-0679-9, DOI: 10.1038/s41587-020-0679-9, ISSN: 1546-1696.
Sanchez MI, Nguyen QA, Wang W, Soltesz I, Ting AY. Transcriptional readout of neuronal activity via an engineered Ca2+-activated protease. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A [print-electronic]. 2020 Dec 12/29/2020; 117(52): 33186-96. PMID: 33323488, PMCID: PMC7777206, PII: 2006521117, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2006521117, ISSN: 1091-6490.
Nguyen QA, Moolchand P, Soltesz I. Connecting Pathological Cellular Mechanisms to Large-Scale Seizure Structures. Trends Neurosci [print-electronic]. 2020 Aug; 43(8): 547-9. PMID: 32376035, PMCID: PMC7665900, PII: S0166-2236(20)30097-7, DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2020.04.006, ISSN: 1878-108X.
Dey D, Parihar VK, Szabo GG, Klein PM, Tran J, Moayyad J, Ahmed F, Nguyen QA, Murry A, Merriott D, Nguyen B, Goldman J, Angulo MC, Piomelli D, Soltesz I, Baulch JE, Limoli CL. Neurological Impairments in Mice Subjected to Irradiation and Chemotherapy. Radiat Res [print-electronic]. 2020 May; 193(5): 407-24. PMID: 32134362, PMCID: PMC7334540, PII: 10.1667/RR15540.1, DOI: 10.1667/RR15540.1, ISSN: 1938-5404.
Farrell JS, Nguyen QA, Soltesz I. Resolving the Micro-Macro Disconnect to Address Core Features of Seizure Networks. Neuron. 2019 Mar 3/20/2019; 101(6): 1016-28. PMID: 30897354, PMCID: PMC6430140, PII: S0896-6273(19)30070-4, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.01.043, ISSN: 1097-4199.
Nguyen QA, Nicoll RA. The GABAA Receptor ß Subunit Is Required for Inhibitory Transmission. Neuron [print-electronic]. 2018 May 5/16/2018; 98(4): 718-725.e3-725.e3. PMID: 29706582, PMCID: PMC6089239, PII: S0896-6273(18)30252-6, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.03.046, ISSN: 1097-4199.
Nguyen QA, Horn ME, Nicoll RA. Distinct roles for extracellular and intracellular domains in neuroligin function at inhibitory synapses. Elife. 2016 Nov 11/2/2016; 5: PMID: 27805570, PMCID: PMC5098909, PII: e19236, DOI: 10.7554/eLife.19236, ISSN: 2050-084X.
Bemben MA, Nguyen QA, Wang T, Li Y, Nicoll RA, Roche KW. Autism-associated mutation inhibits protein kinase C-mediated neuroligin-4X enhancement of excitatory synapses. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A [print-electronic]. 2015 Feb 2/24/2015; 112(8): 2551-6. PMID: 25675530, PMCID: PMC4345621, PII: 1500501112, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1500501112, ISSN: 1091-6490.
Nguyen QA, Klein PM, Xie C, Benthall KN, Iafrati J, Homidan J, Bendor JT, Dudok B, Farrell JS, Gschwind T, Porter CL, Keravala A, Dodson GS, Soltesz I. Acetylcholine receptor based chemogenetics engineered for neuronal inhibition and seizure control assessed in mice. Nat Commun. 2024 Jan 1/18/2024; 15(1): 601. PMID: 38238329, PMCID: PMC10796428, PII: 10.1038/s41467-024-44853-8, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44853-8, ISSN: 2041-1723.
Klein PM, Parihar VK, Szabo GG, Zöldi M, Angulo MC, Allen BD, Amin AN, Nguyen QA, Katona I, Baulch JE, Limoli CL, Soltesz I. Detrimental impacts of mixed-ion radiation on nervous system function. Neurobiol Dis [print-electronic]. 2021 Apr; 151: 105252. PMID: 33418069, PII: S0969-9961(21)00001-2, DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105252, ISSN: 1095-953X.
Chen R, Gore F, Nguyen QA, Ramakrishnan C, Patel S, Kim SH, Raffiee M, Kim YS, Hsueh B, Krook-Magnusson E, Soltesz I, Deisseroth K. Deep brain optogenetics without intracranial surgery. Nat Biotechnol [print-electronic]. 2021 Feb; 39(2): 161-4. PMID: 33020604, PMCID: PMC7878426, PII: 10.1038/s41587-020-0679-9, DOI: 10.1038/s41587-020-0679-9, ISSN: 1546-1696.
Sanchez MI, Nguyen QA, Wang W, Soltesz I, Ting AY. Transcriptional readout of neuronal activity via an engineered Ca2+-activated protease. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A [print-electronic]. 2020 Dec 12/29/2020; 117(52): 33186-96. PMID: 33323488, PMCID: PMC7777206, PII: 2006521117, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2006521117, ISSN: 1091-6490.
Nguyen QA, Moolchand P, Soltesz I. Connecting Pathological Cellular Mechanisms to Large-Scale Seizure Structures. Trends Neurosci [print-electronic]. 2020 Aug; 43(8): 547-9. PMID: 32376035, PMCID: PMC7665900, PII: S0166-2236(20)30097-7, DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2020.04.006, ISSN: 1878-108X.
Dey D, Parihar VK, Szabo GG, Klein PM, Tran J, Moayyad J, Ahmed F, Nguyen QA, Murry A, Merriott D, Nguyen B, Goldman J, Angulo MC, Piomelli D, Soltesz I, Baulch JE, Limoli CL. Neurological Impairments in Mice Subjected to Irradiation and Chemotherapy. Radiat Res [print-electronic]. 2020 May; 193(5): 407-24. PMID: 32134362, PMCID: PMC7334540, PII: 10.1667/RR15540.1, DOI: 10.1667/RR15540.1, ISSN: 1938-5404.
Farrell JS, Nguyen QA, Soltesz I. Resolving the Micro-Macro Disconnect to Address Core Features of Seizure Networks. Neuron. 2019 Mar 3/20/2019; 101(6): 1016-28. PMID: 30897354, PMCID: PMC6430140, PII: S0896-6273(19)30070-4, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.01.043, ISSN: 1097-4199.
Nguyen QA, Nicoll RA. The GABAA Receptor ß Subunit Is Required for Inhibitory Transmission. Neuron [print-electronic]. 2018 May 5/16/2018; 98(4): 718-725.e3-725.e3. PMID: 29706582, PMCID: PMC6089239, PII: S0896-6273(18)30252-6, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.03.046, ISSN: 1097-4199.
Nguyen QA, Horn ME, Nicoll RA. Distinct roles for extracellular and intracellular domains in neuroligin function at inhibitory synapses. Elife. 2016 Nov 11/2/2016; 5: PMID: 27805570, PMCID: PMC5098909, PII: e19236, DOI: 10.7554/eLife.19236, ISSN: 2050-084X.
Bemben MA, Nguyen QA, Wang T, Li Y, Nicoll RA, Roche KW. Autism-associated mutation inhibits protein kinase C-mediated neuroligin-4X enhancement of excitatory synapses. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A [print-electronic]. 2015 Feb 2/24/2015; 112(8): 2551-6. PMID: 25675530, PMCID: PMC4345621, PII: 1500501112, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1500501112, ISSN: 1091-6490.
Available Postdoctoral Position Details
Posted: 5/24/2024
The Nguyen Lab at Vanderbilt is seeking talented and motivated postdocs to join our research group. Our lab is interested in studying mechanisms of hyperexcitability in the brain and utilize approaches such as ex vivo and in vivo electrophysiology, 2-photon calcium imaging, closed-loop optogenetics and EEG recording in mice to understand neuronal function and how it goes awry in disorders such as epilepsy.
Lab webpage: https://www.qanguyenlab.com
Candidates should have a Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Biology, Pharmacology, or related discipline. Applicants should submit a Cover Letter and CV, including contact information of 3-4 references, to qa.nguyen@vanderbilt.edu.