Vanderbilt University · PharmacologyLaboratory of Antidepressant Mechanisms
Lisa M Monteggia · Nashville, Tennessee
Research Focus
Dr. Lisa Monteggia's research lab at Vanderbilt University focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms behind rapid and sustained antidepressant effects, particularly those induced by the drug ketamine. The lab investigates how brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) contribute to these antidepressant actions at the synaptic level. This research aims to uncover new treatment strategies for depression that could lead to faster and more effective therapies.
BDNFketaminedepressionsynaptic plasticityantidepressantsMeCP2neurotransmissionacute effectssustained effects
Research Aims
4AIM 01Examine the role of BDNF in synaptic scaling and rapid antidepressant responses.
AIM 02Investigate how ketamine affects MeCP2 phosphorylation and its link to sustained antidepressant effects.
AIM 03Determine the cellular mechanisms involved in BDNF-TrkB signaling related to antidepressant action.
AIM 04Assess the impact of acute versus sustained effects of ketamine on neurotransmission.
Skills the Lab Values
cell culturemouse modelselectrophysiologyWestern blotimmunohistochemistrygene knockout techniquesphosphorylation assaysmolecular cloningbehavioral assays
Output against the department
Publications203top 43% of dept.200th of 462
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations26ktop 11% of dept.52nd of 462
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.