SUNY Downstate Scientist Honored by Research Foundation
Apr 14, 2008
Dr. Todd Sacktor Recognized for Finding Molecule that Sustains Memory
Brooklyn, NY - SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University’s Todd Sacktor, MD, was among twenty faculty members from SUNY campuses around the state honored for their groundbreaking research at a recent awards dinner in Albany.
The SUNY Research Foundation, which hosts the annual dinner, calls the event “New York State’s chance to recognize and thank faculty whose research in fields like medicine, engineering, science, computers, mathematics, social work, and education increases human knowledge, and provides an economic engine for the state.”
Dr. Sacktor was honored in the category of Outstanding Research/Scholar. This category recognizes faculty members for outstanding contributions they have made in their respective fields, including inventions and significant recognition they have received from their peers. Dr. Sacktor is a professor of physiology and pharmacology and of neurology at SUNY Downstate.
For nearly three decades, Dr. Sacktor has been studying the mechanism of learning and memory. He and his research team reported in Science magazine that an enzyme molecule called “protein kinase M zeta” preserves memories through long-term strengthening of synaptic connections between neurons. By inhibiting the enzyme, scientists were able to erase a memory that had been stored for one day, or even one month. After the erasure, the animal models could relearn and then remember normally, indicating that the inhibitor did not damage the brain or permanently disrupt memory function.
These findings may be useful for the treatment of disorders characterized by the pathological over-strengthening of synaptic connections, such as neuropathic pain, phantom limb syndrome, and post-traumatic stress, and possibly even to lead to ability to selectively switch off memories of painful events. Conversely, the identification of the core molecular mechanism for memory storage may focus effort on the development of specific therapeutic agents that enhance memory persistence and prevent memory loss. Science magazine deemed Dr. Sacktor’s discovery one of the “10 Science Breakthroughs of 2006.”
The Research Foundation supports the advancement of education, research and discovery at the State University of New York. In 2007, the Research Foundation administered $781.8 million in research money for 7,400 projects funded by 1,600 sponsors. The SUNY system currently serves more than 427,000 students.
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About SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn is one of four academic health centers (AMCs) in The State University of New York (SUNY) 64-campus system and the only SUNY AMC in New York City dedicated to health education, research, and patient care for the borough’s 2.7 million residents. Its flagship hospital, University Hospital at Downstate (UHD), is a teaching hospital and benefits from the expertise of Downstate’s exceptional medical school and world-class academic center research facilities. With a staff of over 800 physicians representing 53 specialties and subspecialties, Downstate offers comprehensive healthcare services to the community.
UHD provides high-risk neonatal and infant services, pediatric nephrology, and dialysis for kidney diseases and is the only kidney transplantation program in Brooklyn. Beyond its clinical expertise, Downstate houses a range of esteemed educational institutions, including its College of Medicine, College of Nursing, School of Health Professions, School of Graduate Studies, and School of Public Health. Downstate fosters innovation through its multifaceted biotechnology initiative, the Biotechnology Incubator and BioBAT, which support early-stage and more mature biotech companies.