Research Interests

I am interested in using optogenetics as a tool to control the function of peripheral nerves.  Specifically, my focus is to optically inhibit muscle function using virally mediated methods.

Degrees

PhD. in Molecular Medicine – Concentration in Neuroscience, The George Washington University, 2013

BS in Biology, The George Washington University, 2004

Honors and Awards

First place oral presentation award winner at the Stanford University School of Medicine Neuroscience Forum, 2015

Selected as a Postdoctoral Scholar Speaker at the 2015 Stanford University School of Medicine Neuroscience Forum

Recipient of The American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship Mid-Atlantic Affiliate: 2010-2012

Selected by The American Heart Association Women’s Board of the Greater Washington Region for honorary fellowship sponsorship

Selected as one of four Graduate Student speakers at The George Washington University Second Annual Neuroscience Symposium, 2012

First Place- Oral Presentation- The George Washington University Research Day 2012

Recipient of The American Heart Association Mamie Doud Eisenhower Memorial Award, 2010

Representative Publications

Gorini C, Jameson H, Woerman AL, Perry DC, Mendelowitz D. Prenatal nicotine exposure enhances the trigeminocardiac reflex via serotonin receptor facilitation in brainstem pathways. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2013 Aug 15;115(4):415-21.

Wang X, Gorini C, Sharp D, Bateman R, Mendelowitz D. Anaesthetics differentially modulate the trigeminocardiac reflex excitatory synaptic pathway in the brainstem. The Journal of Physiology. 2011 Nov 15;589(Pt 22):5431-42.

Gorini C, Philbin K, Bateman R, Mendelowitz D. Endogenous inhibition of the trigeminally evoked neurotransmission to cardiac vagal neurons by muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. Journal of Neurophysiology. 2010 Oct;104(4):1841-8.

 Gorini C, Jameson HS, Mendelowitz D. Serotonergic Modulation of the Trigeminocardiac Reflex Neurotransmission to Cardiac Vagal Neurons in the Nucleus Ambiguus. Journal of Neurophysiology. 2009 Sep;102(3):1443-50.

Frank JG, Jameson HS, Gorini C, Mendelowitz D. Mapping and identification of GABAergic neurons in transgenic mice projecting to cardiac vagal neurons in the nucleus ambiguus using photo-uncaging. Journal of Neurophysiology. 2009 Apr;101(4):1755-60.

Griffioen KJ, Gorini C, Jameson H, Mendelowitz D. Purinergic P2X receptors mediate excitatory transmission to cardiac vagal neurons in the nucleus ambiguus after hypoxia. Hypertension. 2007 Jul;50(1):75-81.

Griffioen KJ, Kamendi HW, Gorini C, Bouairi E, Mendelowitz D. Reactive oxygen species mediate central cardiorespiratory network responses to acute intermittent hypoxia. Journal of Neurophysiology. 2007 Mar;97(3):2059-66.

 

Hobbies:

Running, Biking, swimming, cooking, and eating.