Vitaly A. Klyachko, PhD

Research Interests

The mechanisms governing synaptic transmission are critical to our understanding of how information is transmitted in the brain, yet they remain among the most fundamental unresolved questions in neurobiology. Numerous presynaptic processes are often affected in neurological diseases, including Fragile X syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease. Direct examination of presynaptic processes has historically been limited by the resolution constraints of conventional approaches. The long-term goal of my research program is to develop and apply nanoscale resolution approaches to understand the fundamental mechanisms of synaptic transmission in central synapses under normal conditions, and what disruptions lead to disease states.

Professional Education

• BS: Moscow State University, Russia, 1997, Physics
• MS: Moscow State University, Russia, 1998, Biophysics
• PhD: University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 2002, Biophysics
• Postdoc: HHMI, Salk Institute, La Jolla, CA , 2002-2007, Neuroscience

Publications