BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Academic & Professional Background

• B.S. (Biology) 1977 - University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois
• M.A. (Biopsychology) 1981 - University of Chicago, Illinois
• Ph.D. (Pharmacology) 1985 - Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, Illinois

Current Research Interests

• Aging
• Cellular Calcium Processing
• Cellular Physiology
• Clinical Pharmacology
• Clinical Trials
• Neuroimaging
• Neuropeptides
• Quantitative EEG
• SPECT

Selected Publications

Fiekers, JF, Konopka LM. Spontaneous transients of Ca++ independent on external calcium and the activation of L-type voltage gated calcium channels in a clonal pituitary cell line (AtT-20) of cultured mouse corticotropes. Cell Calcium 19(4):327-336, 1996.

Konopka LM, Cooper R, Crayton JW. Serotonin-induced increases in platelet cytosolic calcium concentration in depressed, schizophrenic and substance abuse patients. Biological Psychiatry 39:708-713, 1996.

Papatheofanis FJ, Shirazi PH, Konopka LM, Crayton JW. Unusual Tc-99 HMPAO brain patterns in neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. RadioGraphics CD Suppl 15:5 Part 3, 1995.

Fiekers JF, Konopka LM. Serotonin-induced changes in membrane potential and cytosolic free calcium in a clonal pituitary cell line (AtT-20) of cultured mouse corticotropes. Life Sci 55:15-26, 1994.

Konopka LM, May V, Forehand CJ. Galanin-like innervation of rat submandibular and sublingual salivary glands: Origin and effect on acinar cell membranes. J Comp Neurol 317:271-282, 1992.

Konopka LM, McKeon TW, Merriam LA, Hardwick JC, Parsons RL. Galanin in a parasympathetic ganglion. In: Galanin: A new multifunctional peptide in the neuroendocrine system. Hokfelt T, Bartfai J (Eds.), MacMillan Press, New York, pp. 261-274, 1992.

Konopka LM. Aminergic and peptidergic elements and actions in a cardiac parasympathetic ganglion. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 70:S32-S34, 1992.

Konopka LM. Bethanexhol-induced responses in mudpuppy parasympathetic neurons. Neuropharmacology 31:1311-1321, 1992.

Parsons RL, Konopka LM. Analysis of the galanin-induced decrease in membrane excitability in mudpuppy parasympathetic neurons. Neuroscience 43(2/3):647-660, 1991.

Projects Completed or Active (Selected)

• Muscarinic and Galaninergic Effects on Rat Salivary Glands
• Effects of Tryptrophan Depletion on Global and Regional Cortical Blood Flow, EEG Activity and Self Reported Mood
• Cerebral Blood Flow in Drug Abuse Patients
• Cocaine Action on Corticotrophs
• Cellular Mechanisms of Cocaine's Action on Isolate Pituitary Corticotrophs
• Cellular Calcium Regulation in Psychiatric Disorders

Research Funding Sources

• Amersham Mediphysics
• Bane Charitable Trust
• Chicago Consortium for Psychiatric Research
• VA Research Advisory Group

Research Methods Employed

• Brain SPECT
• QEEG, Evoked Potentials
• Calcium IMAGING
• Cellular Physiology- Patch Clamp

Professional Accomplishments

• 1989-1991 - Faculty Research Associate, University of Vermont
• 1986-1989 - Post-doctoral Fellow, University of Vermont
• 1985 - Research Associate, Department of Pharmacology, Loyola University Medical Center
• 1981-1985 - Director, Evoked Potential Laboratory, Northwest Neurological Associates, Ltd., Arlington Heights, Illinois

Honors

• 1995 - Invited Speaker, Restoring Brain Function, International Conference in Neuropsychiatry, Chicago. Topic: Quantitative EEG and SPECT Measures in Depressed Patients
• 1991 - Invited Speaker, University of Alberta, Canada. Topic: The Physiology, Pharmacology and Biophysics of Ganglionic Transmission
• 1990 - Invited Speaker, Wenner-Gren Center, Stockholm, Sweden. Topic: Galanin: A New Multifunctional Peptide in the Neuro-endocrine System