Perspectives: David Julius, PhD

Dr. Julius is the Morris Herzstein Chair in Molecular Biology and Medicine, and Professor and Chair of Physiology at the University of California, San Francisco. He will present on "Electroreception in Sharks and Skates: Insights into Sensory Adaptation."

The Julius lab is interested in understanding how signals are received and transmitted by the nervous system. They have exploited the properties of natural products to discover a family of thermo- and chemo-sensitive ion channels that enable sensory nerve fibers to detect hot or cold temperatures or chemical irritants. With the aid of genetic, electrophysiological, and behavioral methods, they have determined how these ion channels contribute to pain sensation.