The neurons in our brains use both electrical and chemical signals to communicate. When those signals are not generated or interpreted correctly, serious problems can arise. Dr. Jerry Yakel is a neurobiologist studying acetylcholine receptors, which allow neurons to turn signals transmitted using the chemical acetylcholine into electrical messages. Because acetylcholine receptors are found on so many nerve cells, numerous neurological disorders can arise when they fail to work properly, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and epilepsy. By studying these receptors, Dr. Yakel’s team hopes to better understand how they contribute to disease, which could eventually lead to therapies for a variety of neurological conditions.

Jerry Yakel, Ph.D., is a Senior Investigator in the Ion Channel Physiology Group at the NIH’s National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). Learn more about Dr. Yakel and his research at https://irp.nih.gov/pi/jerrel-yakel