My most recent challenge has been developing and designing this website. The purpose of this website is to give potential students valuable insight into what we have accomplished in the field of Neuroscience. Dr Yoland Smith is a well respected scientist in his field and I feel honored to be a part of his team. My main responsibility is to support Jeff Pare in the supervising and functioning of the lab.

I have been dubbed “Jeff Jr”. Recruited in 2001, I come to this position with an extensive background in Histology.
I attended the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston where I received my degree in Histology. I then became board certified with the ASCP (American Society of Clinical Pathologists).
I started my career at Emory Hospital in the Anatomical Pathology department, where I gained vast knowledge and experience in a variety of histological techniques. In this role I perfected cutting
thin sections on the microtome, frozen sections on the cryostat, immunohistochemical techniques, and a significant number of staining techniques on various organisms. Below is an example of some histological techniques implemented in our laboratory.

	A Nissl stained section of a monkey brain. This histological technique provides clear delineation of brain structure. For example, in this image the cerebral cortex, the putamen, and the nuclei of the brain stem can be easily identified.

This Nissl stained section shows a section of a monkey cerebellum.

	Immunostaining for tyrosine hydroxylase, a marker of dopamine neurons. In this section of monkey brain, the caudate-putamen, which receives dense dopaminergic innervation, is strongly labeled.

A section of monkey brain immunolabeled for MAP-2, a neuronal marker. In this section the basal ganglia, which are the main focus of our research, are clearly shown.

The experience I acquired at Emory Hospital gave me the
necessary tools to pursue the role of designing and implementing
a new Histology department at Egleston Children’s Hospital.
After holding this position as supervisor for seven years I then moved on to acquire employment at Emory Reference Laboratory.
My challenge in this role was to troubleshoot existing immunohistochemical procedures and implement new techniques.
My next vocation was working for a dermatologist learning a
histological technique called Moh’s. This is a procedure cutting
frozen sections looking for the margins of skin cancer.

My current role involves a variety of diverse activities. I train and supervise new staff in using various equipment and teach different techniques used in the lab. Maintain and troubleshoot a variety of quipment. Order supplies to carry out daily activities. Offer support to graduate students and post docs on their research projects. I cut brain sections with the microtome (vibrotome, freezing microtome, cryostat, etc.) then carry out histochemical and immunohistochemical techniques for the localization of axonal tracers and neurotransmitter related substances in the light and electron microscopes. Prepare brain tissue for electron microscopy. Cut ultrathin sections on the ultracut and mount on grids for viewing on the electron microscope. Analyze material at the electron microscopic level for a project on the localization of different proteins in the monkey brain including dopamine receptors and calcyon. Pursue technical and organizational knowledge to enhance performance. Organize various events to promote teamwork.  I’m proactive and responsive to the needs of a diverse group of associates.

Publications and Abstracts

Weinkle A, Pare JF, Jenkins S, Smith Y (2010) A quantitative analysis of cortical serotonin and catecholamine axon degeneration in the nonhuman primate model of Parkinson’s Disease. SURE Poster Session.

Newell-Litwa, K., S. Chintala, S. Jenkins, J.-F. Pare, L. McGaha, Y.Smith and V. Faundez (2010)Hermansky-Pudlak protein complexes, AP-3 and BLOC-1, differentially regulate presynaptic composition in the striatum and hippocampus. J.Neurosci. 30: 820-831. PMID. 20089890.

Mathai, A., JF Pare, S Jenkins and Y. Smith (2010) Glutamatergic inputs to the subthalamic nucleus: A quantitative analysis of the synaptic microcircuitry of vGluT1- and vGluT2-containing terminals in normal and parkinsonian nonhuman primates. IBAGS X Abstr P-28.

Gonzales, KK, JF Pare, S Jenkins, T Wichmann and Y Smith (2010) Striatal cholinergic interneurons receive intrinsic GABAergic inputs from axon collaterals of direct and indirect striatofugal neurons in the primate putamen. IBAGS X Abstr P-61.

Mathai, A, JF Pare, S Jenkins, Y Smith (2009) Glutamatergic inputs to the subthalamic nucleus: A quantitative analysis of the synaptic microcircuitry of vGluT1- and vGluT2-containing terminals in nonhuman primates. Soc for Neurosci Abstr 828.2.

Gonzales KK, JF Pare, S Jenkins, T Wichmann and Y Smith (2009) Intrinsic microcircuitry of GABAergic inputs from direct and indirect striatofugal neurons on striatal cholinergic interneurons in the primate putamen. Soc for Neurosci Abstr 828.4

Grabowska, D, M Jayaraman, KM Kaltenbronn, SL Sandiford, Q Wang, S Jenkins, VZ Slepak, Y Smith and KJ Blumer (2008) Synaptic maturation involved the postnatal induction and synaptic localization of G protein regulatory complexes containing RGS7 family member, Gb5 and R7BP. Neuroscience 151:969-982.

Kliem MA, Pare J, Maxson S, Wichmann T, Smith Y (2006) Comparative ultrastructural analysis of D1 and D5 dopamine receptor distribution in the substantia nigra and globus pallidus of normal and parknsonian monkeys. Soc for Neurosci Abstr 450.12.

Maxson S, C. Bergston, K. Ciombor and Y. Smith (2002) Subcellular localization of calcyon in the striatum and subthalamic nucleus of normal and parkinsonian monkeys. Soc for NS abstr 63.14