QnAs with Mark T. Nelson

Abstract

Mark T. Nelson has long been interested in the mechanisms that control blood flow in the brain in response to neuronal activity. During his research career, he has examined ion channels in smooth muscle and endothelial cells, and how the channels are regulated. Nelson’s work has improved researchers’ understanding of how cerebral blood flow can be regulated by calcium signaling and potassium channel activation. He has also explored how cerebral blood flow can be disrupted, resulting in small-vessel diseases that contribute to stroke and dementia. Nelson is the Chair of the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Vermont and was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2019. In his Inaugural Article (1), Nelson describes the role of a plasma membrane lipid, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), in the regulation of vascular ion channels in smooth muscle and endothelial cells. He recently spoke to PNAS about his work. Mark T. Nelson. Image credit: Sally McCay (photographer). > PNAS:How did you become interested in studying the regulation of blood flow? > Nelson:We’ve been working on calcium signaling and ion channels in blood vessels since the mid-1980s and were particularly interested in the control of blood flow in the brain. In recent years, we’ve become interested in …