Tetyana Duka

Post-Doctoral Scientist, Laboratory for Evolutionary Neuroanatomy
Research Associate, Center for the Advanced Study of Hominid Paleobiology
E-mail tduka@gwu.edu
Office: Ross Hall 611 / (202) 994-5923

Dr. Duka is a neuroscientist with a special interest in nervous system functioning at the molecular level.

Research

Dr. Duka's primary research interest is directed toward understanding the molecular events that mediate communication among cells in the nervous system during development, regeneration, myelination, learning and memory. However, her research interests also include:

1. the physiopathology of debilitating and dementing neurodegenerative diseases;
2. signal transduction pathways involved in neuropsychiatric disorders such schizophrenia and depression;
3. age-related differences in synaptic plasticity.

Current Research Projects

1. Exploring the metabolic and genotypic changes that accompany the evolution of encephalization across different mammalian groups.
2. Examining the correlation between behavioral lateralization, gross anatomical asymmetries, and synaptic turnover/ reorganization of synapses in the primary motor cortex of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes).
3. Investigating ontogenetic series of macaque, chimpanzee, gorilla, and human samples for the developmental expression patterns of various proteins involved in synaptic functions and those involved in oxidative energy metabolism across different neocortical areas.

Selected Publications

Articles and Book Chapters

To see Dr. Duka's complete CV, click here.

2009	Duka, T., V. Duka, J.N. Joyce, and A. Sidhu. "The effect of alpha-synuclein on GSK-3 beta-catalyzed tau phosphorylat5ion in Parkinson's disease models," FASEB Journal 23(9). Doi: 10.1096/fj.08-120410.
2006	Duka, T., M. Rusnak, R.E. Drolet, V. Duka, C. Wersinger, J.L. Goudreau, and A. Sidhu. "Alpha-synuclein contributes to GSK-3beta-catalyzed Tau phosphorylation in Parkinson's disease models," FASEB Journal 20: 2302-12. Doi: 10.1096/fj.08-120410.
1999	Duka, T., and V. Chomaya. "Glial fibrillary acidic protein in progreny brain of stressed rats," Neurophysiology 31: 249-50.

Courses Taught

No courses taught at GW to date.

Education

Ph.D. 2003 (Biochemistry), National Taras Shevchenko University (Ukraine)
M.Sc. 1995 (Biophysics and Biochemistry), Dnepropetrovsk National University (Ukraine)