Geoffrey K. Ganter, Ph.D.
Professor of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, School of Biological Sciences
Co-Director, Histology and Imaging Core
Location
Credentials
Education
Post-Doctoral Training
Research
Current research
Dr. Ganter's laboratory is investigating the mechanisms of nociception using the powerful genetic toolkit of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Pain affects all of our lives in some way, yet we know only a little of how pain works and how to block it. The tiny fly might be able to lead us to the next generation of improved medications for pain in humans.
Selected publications
Hale C*, Moulton J, Otis Y* and Ganter G. Armadillo regulates nociceptive sensitivity in the absence of injury. Mol Pain. 2022 Apr;18 PMID: 35712882
McParland A*, Moulton J*, Brann C*, Hale C*, Otis Y*, Ganter G. The Brinker repressor system regulates injury-induced nociceptive sensitization in Drosophila melanogaster. Mol Pain. 2021 Jan-Dec;17:17448069211037401.
Brann CL*, Moulton JK*, Ganter GK. Glypicans Dally and Dally-like control injury-induced allodynia in Drosophila. Mol Pain. 2019 Jan-Dec;15. PMID: 31132919.
Gjelsvik KJ*, Follansbee TL*, and Ganter GK. Bone Morphogenetic Protein Glass Bottom Boat (BMP5/6/7/8) and its receptor Wishful Thinking (BMPRII) are required for injury-induced allodynia in Drosophila. Mol Pain. 2018 Jan-Dec;14.
Follansbee TL*, Gjelsvik KJ*, Brann CL*, McParland AL*, Longhurst CA*, Galko MJ, Ganter GK. Nociceptive Sensitization Requires BMP Signaling via the Canonical SMAD Pathway. J Neurosci. 2017 Aug 30;37(35):8524-8533
McParland AL*, Follansbee TL*, Vesenka GD, Panaitiu AE*, Ganter GK. Steroid receptor isoform expression in Drosophila nociceptor neurons is required for normal dendritic arbor and sensitivity. PLoS One. 2015 Oct 23;10(10):e0140785
McParland AL*, Follansbee TL*, Ganter GK. Measurement of larval activity in the Drosophila activity monitor. J Vis Exp. 2015 Apr 30;(98):e52684
Ganter GK, Desilets JB, Davis-Knowlton JA, Panaitiu AE*, Sweezy M, Sungail J, Tan LCH*, Adams AM*, Fisher EA*, O'Brien JRM*, Kincaid KM*, Heinrich R. Drosophila female precopulatory behavior is modulated by ecdysteroids (2012) Journal of Insect Physiology, 58 (3): 413-419
Ganter GK, Panaitiu AE*, Desilets JB*, Davis-Heim JA, Fisher EA*, Tan LCH*, Heinrich R, Buchanan EB*, Brooks KM*, Kenney MT*, Verde MG*, Downey J*, Adams AM*, Grenier JS*, Maddula S*, Shah P*, Kincaid KM*, O'Brien JRM.* Drosophila male courtship behavior is modulated by ecdysteroids (2011) Journal of Insect Physiology, 57 (9): 1179-1184
Ganter GK, Walton KL*, Merriman JO*, Salmon MV*, Brooks KM*, Maddula S*, Kravitz EA. Increased male-male courtship in ecdysone receptor deficient adult flies (2007) Behavior Genetics, 37 (3): 507-512. (Accepted 12/27/2006, published 1/20/07)
* indicates student co-author
Funded grants
1R15NS131952-01 08/01/2023 - 07/31/2026 Investigation of Armadillo/ß-catenin Mechanisms Influencing Nociceptive Sensitivity in Drosophila
Research interests
Neurobiology of nociception.