Gary Dunbar, Ph.D.
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  • Position: Experimental Faculty, CNS Advisor, Co-Director of Neuroscience Program
  • Department: Psychology
  • Campus Address: Health Professions 2182, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859
  • Email: dunba1g@cmich.edu
  • Vitae: Curriculum Vitae

Website: http://www.chsbs.cmich.edu/gary_dunbar/

 

Bio:

Gary Dunbar received a B.A. in Philosophy and a B.S. in Biopsychology from Eckerd College. He received a M.A. in Psychology and a M.S. in Biology from Central Michigan University, and a Ph.D. in Psychobiology from Clark University. He is currently the John G. Kulhavi Professor of Neuroscience and is Director of the Neuroscience Program and Brain Research and Integrative Neuroscience (BRAIN) Center. Dr. Dunbar is a Past-President of the Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience and for the Michigan Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience. He was named Michigan Professor of the Year in 1997. He serves as the scientific advisor for the Michigan Chapter of the Huntington's Diseases Society of America and as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Undergraduate Neuroscience Education.

Research Interest:

Dr. Dunbar's teaching and research interests are in the area of behavioral neuroscience. His recent research is focused on the use of stem cell transplants, dietary supplements, and pharmacological treatments for cognitive/or motor deficits following brain damage and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Huntington's, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. His research has been supported by grants from the National Institute of Health, National Science Foundation, and several pharmaceutical companies. His current work on stem cell transplants is funded by Field Neurosciences Institute, his work on dietary supplements is supported by Cerise Neutraceuticals, and his work on pharmacological treatments for neurodegenerative disorders is being funded by Guilford Pharmaceuticals and Krenitsky Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Recent Research:

Martines, K. H., Shear, D. A., Hargrove, C., Patton, J., Mazei-Robison, M., Sandstrom, M. I., & Dunbar, G. L. (2010). 7-nitroindazole attenuates 6-hydroxydopamine-induced spatial learning deficits and dopamine neuron loss in a presymptomatic animal model of Parkinson's disease. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 16(2), 178-189.

Dey, N. D., Boersen, A. J., Myers, R. A., York, L. R., Bombard, M. C., Lu, M., Sandstrom, M. I., Hulce, V. D., Lescaudron, L., & Dunbar, G. L. (2007). The novel substituted pyrimidine, KP544, reduces motor deficits in the R6/2 transgenic mouse model of Huntington’s disease. Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience, 25, 485-492.

Andres, A. K, Marble, B. R., Dunbar, G. L., Reilly, M. P., & Maurissen, J. P. J. (2007). Effects of intensity and type of prepulse stimulus on prepulse inhibition in scopolamine treated rats. Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior.

Dunbar, G. L., Sandstrom, M. I., Rossignol, J., & Lescaudron, L. (2006). Neurotrophic enhancers as therapy for behavioral deficits in rodent models of Huntington’s disease: Use of gangliosides, substituted pyrimidines, and mesenchymal stem cells. Behavrioral and Cognitive Neuroscience Reviews, 5, 63-79.

Dunbar, G. L., Oh-Lee, J. D., & Lescaudron, L. (2006). Use of bone marrow stem cells as therapy for behavioral deficits inrodent models of Huntington’s disease. In P.R Sanberg and C. Davis (Eds.), Contemporary Neuroscience: Cell Therapy for Brain Repair (pp.117-138) . Humana Press, Inc., Totowa, N.J.

Mortazavi, F., Ericson, M., Story, D., Hulce, V. D., & Dunbar, G. L. (2005). Spatial learning and emotional impairments in pentylenetetrazole-kindled rats. Epilepsy & Behavior, 7, 629-638.

Krenitsky, T. A., Dillberger, J., Zotova, E., Arezzo, J. C., Koprich, J. B., Mortazavi , F., Gates, T. A., & Dunbar, G. L. (2004). KP544, an Enhancer of Nerve Growth Factor: Pharmacokinetics, Safety and Efficacy in the Rat. Drug Development Research, 62, 60-70.

Wessell, R. H., Ahmed, S. M., Menniti, F. S., Dunbar, G. L., Chase, T. N. & Oh-Lee, J. D. (2004). NR2B selective NMDA receptor antagonist CP-101,606 prevents levodopa-induced motor response alterations in hemi-parkinsonian rats. Neurpharmacology, 47, 184-194.

Lescaudron, L. U., D., & Dunbar, G. L. (2003). Autologous adult bone marrow stem cell transplantation in an animal model of Huntington’s disease: Behavioral and morphological outcomes. International Journal of Neuroscience, 113, 945-956.

Shear, D., Haik, K. L., & Dunbar, G. L. (2000). Creatine reduces 3-nitropropionic-acid-induced cognitive and motor abnormalities in rats. NeuroReport, 11, 1833-1837.

Haik, K. L., Shear, D. A., Schroeder, U., Sabel, B. A., & Dunbar, G. L. (2000). Quinolinic acid released from polymeric brain implants causes behavioral and neuroanatomical alterations in a rodent model of Huntington’s disease. Experimental Neurology,163, 430-439.