Dr. Derek Daniels
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania
Office: B74 Park Hall
Phone: (716) 645-3650 x. 674
E-mail (will open in a new window)

Click here for Dr. Daniels's personally-maintained web site

Summary of Research Interests:

Research in my laboratory focuses on the neural mechanisms that regulate ingestive behaviors such as food, water, and salt intake. These behaviors are critical for the maintenance of body fluid, cardiovascular, and energy homeostasis. Specific areas of interest include the neural circuits that contribute to these behaviors and the intracellular events that occur at various nodes within the circuits. At the present time, the two main areas of focus include: 1) determining the site(s) upon which peptides act within the brain to initiate a widespread neural response relevant to changes in food intake; and 2) determining the behavioral relevance of individual intracellular signaling pathways.

Representative Publications:

• Daniels, D., C.S. Patten, J.D. Roth, D.K. Yee, and S.J. Fluharty (2003) Melanocortin receptor signaling through mitogen-activated protein kinase in vitro and in rat hypothalamus. Brain Research, 986: 1-11.
  
• Daniels, D., S. Markison, H.J. Grill, and J.M. Kaplan (2004) Central nervous system structures necessary and sufficient for ingestive and glycemic responses to urocortin administration. Journal of Neuroscience, 24: 11457-62.
  
• Daniels, D. and S.J. Fluharty (2004). Salt appetite: A neurohormonal viewpoint. Physiology and Behavior, 81(2): 319-337.
  
• Daniels, D., D.K. Yee, L.F. Faulconbridge, and S.J. Fluharty (2005) Divergent behavioral roles of angiotensin receptor intracellular signaling cascades. Endocrinology, 146: 5552 - 5560.