• Kimberly Urban
  • B.S. in Biology and Neuroscience: Kings College
    M.S. in Biology :West Chester University
    Ph.D. in Neuroscience: Drexel University

    Lab:

      147 Wolf Hall 302-831-4895

    Office:

      126A Wolf Hall 302-831-0174

    Email:

      kurban@udel.edu

    Vitae:

      cv.pdf

Introduction

I have a B.S. and M.S. in Biology, and received my doctorate in Neuroscience from Drexel University in May of 2013. I joined the Griffin lab shortly thereafter. I am primarily an electrophysiologist, having worked on slice recordings during my Ph.D. training. My main interest is in understanding how psychiatric medications affect cognition (primarily learning and memory) in healthy, developing brains. I also am interested in the normal circuitry involved in working memory, and how that can be affected by these medications.

Project Description

I am currently expanding upon my previous work studying how early life exposure to methylphenidate affects working memory and attention in normal brains. My hope is that this research will help us better understand the consequences of misdiagnosis and/or abuse of the drug. In the Griffin lab, I use behavioral training and am learning in vivo electrophysiology.

Publications

  • 1. Pagan OR, Rowlands AL and Urban, KR. Toxicity and behavioral effects of dimethylsulfoxide in planaria. Neuroscience Letters; 2006;407(3):274-8.
    2. Pagan OR, Rowlands AL, Azam M, Urban KR, Bidja AH, Roy DM, Feeney RB, and Afshari LK. Reversal of cocaine-induced planarian behavior by parthenolide and related sesquiterpine lactones. Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav; 2008;89(2):160-70.
    3. Pagan OR, Rowlands AL, Fattore AL, Coudron T, Urban KR, Bidja AH, and Eterovic VA. A cembranoid from tobacco prevents the expression of nicotine-induced withdrawal behavior in planarian worms. Eur J Pharmacol; 2009;615(1-3):118-24.
    4. Urban KR, Waterhouse BW, and Gao WJ. Distinct age- and dose-dependent effects of methylphenidate on developing and adult prefrontal neurons: Methylphenidate Decreases Excitability and Synaptic Transmission in the Juvenile Rat Prefrontal Cortex and Exerts Dose-Dependent Long-term Changes in Prefrontal Neurons. Biological Psychiatry; 2012 Nov 15; 72(10): 880-888. 22609367. (Epub 2012 May 19).)
    5. Urban KR, and Gao WJ. Evolution of the study of methylphenidate and its effects on the adult versus juvenile brain. (Review). Journal of Attention Disorders; 2012. PMID 22923783(Epub ahead of print)).
    6. Urban KR, Li Y, and Gao WJ. Treatment with a Clinically-Relevant Dose of Methylphenidate Alters NMDA Receptor composition and Synaptic Plasticity in the Juvenile Rat Prefrontal Cortex. Learning and Memory. PMID 23333502 (Epub 2013 Jan 18).