Biography
Dr. Tunc-Ozcan received a B.A. degree in Psychology (2004) and an M.A. degree in Developmental Psychology (2006) from Bogazici University in Turkey. She earned her Ph.D. (2017) from Northwestern University, Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program (NUIN). Following her Ph.D., she worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the Northwestern University Neurology Department until she was appointed as an Assistant Professor at the University of New Mexico, Department of Neurosciences.
Personal Statement
My research focuses on understanding how neural circuits and gene networks react to stressful experiences that produce lasting changes in the brain, how such changes can predict adaptive and maladaptive behaviors, and thereafter modulate these changes to prevent and reverse neuropsychiatric disease-like states.
In my postdoc, I explored molecular techniques to manipulate signaling pathways and created tools to modulate cell-type-specific activity. Using targeted mutant mice, I identified a common signaling pathway for antidepressant action. By using excitatory and inhibitory mutant G-protein coupled receptors (DREADDs) in a cell type-specific manner, I showed that activating immature hippocampal neurons, even without increasing their numbers, exerted a rapid antidepressant effect and reversed the effects of unpredictable chronic mild stress. Because neuronal activity is determined by presynaptic inputs, I identified the presynaptic partners of both mature and immature dentate gyrus neurons using monosynaptic retrograde rabies virus tracing. We are currently studying how these inputs change after unpredictable chronic mild stress and antidepressant treatment. My next goal is manipulating the activity of dentate gyrus neuronal circuits by combining rabies tracing with chemogenetic technology to target different populations of dentate gyrus neurons in a projection-specific manner. The resulting detailed input map of the dentate gyrus with various behavioral and molecular phenotypes will help to identify subtle differences and lead to the discovery of critical neuronal circuits.
However, getting inputs from the same region, even from the same neuron, does not mean the same message is delivered to each recipient. Therefore, my other goal is to focus on how neurotransmitter co-transmission, where multiple neurotransmitters are simultaneously released from a single neuron, modulates circuit structure and function across the brain. This complexity can selectively influence circuit function based on receptor availability and synaptic context. By using chemogenetic tools and input-output mapping, I aim to uncover how these dynamics affect stress resilience, antidepressant efficacy, and mood regulation, providing insights into the mechanisms underlying neuropsychiatric disorders. Ultimately, this comprehensive approach will contribute to understanding how specific genes, cell types, and neuronal circuits influence disease predisposition and progression, sex differences, and novel therapeutic developments.
Areas of Specialty
Behavioral neuroscience
Animal models of anxiety and depression
Neural circuits
Hippocampus
Epigenetics
Achievements & Awards
2024 - Advance at UNM Women in STEM Award
2024 - UNM Faculty Leader of the Pack Louie Award
2022 - Dr. Samuel M. Nabrit Conference Early Career Scholars Travel Award, Brown University
2021 - NIH K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award (National Institute of Mental Health)
2017-2019 NIH T32 (AG020506) Training Grant
2016 - Graduate School Travel Award, Northwestern University
2015 - Genes, Brain & Behavior Meeting Travel Award
2014 - Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program Research Award, Northwestern University
2013 - Research Society on Alcoholism/FASDSG Conference Travel Award
2012 - Graduate Student Chapter Travel Award, Society for Neuroscience (SfN)
2007 - UNICEF fellowship for the adaptation of the Big Brothers-Big Sisters program to Turkey
2006 - MA awarded with High Honors, Bogazici University
2004 - Cambridge Trust Scholarship for graduate school
2004 - BA awarded with Honors, Bogazici University
2001-2004 - Turkish Government bachelor?s degree scholarship
1999-2004 - Bogazici University full college scholarship
Key Publications
Journal Article
Tunc-Ozcan, Elif, Peng, C, Y Zhu, Y, Dunlop, S, R Contractor, A, Kessler, J, A 2019 Activating newborn neurons suppresses depression and anxiety-like behaviors. Nature communications, vol. 10, Issue 1, 3768
Journal Article
Tunc-Ozcan, Elif, Brooker, S, M Bonds, J, A Tsai, Y, H Rawat, R, McGuire, T, L Peng, C, Y Kessler, J, A 2021 Hippocampal BMP signaling as a common pathway for antidepressant action. Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS, vol. 79, Issue 1, 31
Journal Article
Rawat, R, Tunc-Ozcan, Elif, McGuire, T, L Peng, C, Y Kessler, J, A 2022 Ketamine activates adult-born immature granule neurons to rapidly alleviate depression-like behaviors in mice. Nature communications, vol. 13, Issue 1, 2650
Journal Article
Tunc-Ozcan, Elif, Wert, S, L Lim, P, H Ferreira, A, Redei, E, E 2018 Hippocampus-dependent memory and allele-specific gene expression in adult offspring of alcohol-consuming dams after neonatal treatment with thyroxin or metformin. Molecular psychiatry, vol. 23, Issue 7, 1643-1651
Gender
Female
Languages
- Turkish
- English
Research and Scholarship
PUBLICATIONS
Peer-reviewed original research articles
14. Affaneh A, Linden A, Tunc-Ozcan E, Tsai YH, Peng CY, Kessler JA (2024). Inhibiting bone morphogenetic signaling prevents tau pathology in iPSC Derived Neurons and PS19 Mice. Annals of Neurology. PMID: 39644182.
13. Rawat R, Tunc-Ozcan E, Tsai YH, Dunlop SR, Li F, Bertossi R, Peng CY, Kessler JA (2024). Ketamine exerts rapid and sustained antidepressant effects through different mechanisms. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences. PMCID: PMC10899278.
12. Bonds JA, Tunc-Ozcan E, Dunlop SR, Rawat R, Peng CY, Kessler JA (2023). Why some mice are smarter than others: The impact of bone morphogenetic protein signaling on cognition. eNeuro, PMID: 36596594.
11. Rawat R, Tunc-Ozcan E, McGuire TL, Peng CY, Kessler JA (2022). Ketamine activates adult-born immature granule neurons to rapidly alleviate depression-like behaviors.Nature Communications, PMCID: PMC9098911.
10. Tunc-Ozcan E, Brooker SM, Bonds JA, Tsai YH, Rawat R, McGuire T, Peng CY, Kessler JA (2021). Hippocampal BMP signaling as a common pathway for antidepressant action. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, PMCID: PMC8740160.
9. Tunc-Ozcan E, Peng CY, Zhu Y, Dunlop SR, Contractor A, Kessler JA (2019). Activating newborn neurons suppresses depression and anxiety-like behaviors. Nature Communications, PMCID: PMC6704083.
8. Lim PH, Wert SL, Tunc-Ozcan E, Marr R, Ferreira A, Redei EE (2018). Premature hippocampus-dependent memory decline in middle-aged females of a genetic rat model of depression. Behavioural Brain Research, PMID: 29490235.
7. Tunc-Ozcan E, Wert SL, Lim PH, Ferreira A, Redei EE (2017). Hippocampus-dependent memory and allele-specific gene expression in adult offspring of alcohol-consuming dams after neonatal treatment with thyroxin or metformin. Molecular Psychiatry, PMCID: PMC5775940.
6. Tunc-Ozcan E, Ferreira A, Redei EE (2016). Modeling Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: validating an ex vivo primary hippocampal cell culture system. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, PMCID: PMC4889522
5. Tunc-Ozcan E, Harper KM, Graf EN, Redei EE (2016). Thyroxine administration prevents matrilineal intergenerational consequences of in utero ethanol exposure in rats. Hormones and Behavior, PMCID: PMC4902747.
4. Harper KM*, Tunc-Ozcan E*, Graf EN, Herzing LB, Redei EE (2014). Intergenerational and parent of origin effects of maternal calorie restriction on Igf2 expression in the adult rat hippocampus. Psychoneuroendocrinology, PMCID: PMC4076822. *Equal contributing authors
3. Harper KM*, Tunc-Ozcan E*, Graf EN, Redei EE (2014). Intergenerational effects of prenatal ethanol on glucose tolerance and insulin response. Physiological Genomics, PMCID: PMC4073969. *Equal contributing authors
2. Tunc-Ozcan E, Ullmann TM, Shukla PK, Redei EE (2013). Low dose thyroxine attenuates autism associated adverse effects of fetal alcohol in male offspring?s social behavior and hippocampal gene expression. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, PMCID: PMC3162077.
1. Schaffer DJ*, Tunc-Ozcan E*, Shukla PK, Redei EE (2010). Nuclear orphan receptor Nor-1 contributes to depressive behavior in the Wistar-Kyoto rat model of depression. Brain Research, PMID: 20851110.*Equal contributing authors
Reviews, Editorials, and Invited Commentaries
2. Cunningham LA, Tunc-Ozcan E, Rodriguez AM (2024). Adult hippocampal neurogenesis as a therapeutic target in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Effects of Alcohol on the Brain across the Lifespan - Recent Advances from Preclinical Studies.
1. Tunc-Ozcan E, Sittig LJ, Harper KM, Graf EN, Redei EE (2014). Hypothesis: genetic and epigenetic risk factors interact to modulate vulnerability and resilience to FASD. Frontiers in Genetics, PMCID: PMC4122175.