University of Southern California
USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
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Samantha ButlerAssistant Professor of Biological SciencesContact Information E-mail: butlersj@email.usc.edu Phone: (213) 821-1161 Office: HNB 201 LINKS Faculty Profile on Departmental Website |
Education |
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 Ph.D. Molecular Biology, Princeton University, 1/1997
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B.A. Natural Sciences, Cambridge University, 1/1990
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Postdoctoral Training |
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Postdoctoral fellow, Columbia University, 01/1997-12/2003
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Academic Appointment, Affiliation, and Employment History |
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Assistant Professor, University of Southern California, 01/2004-
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Description of Research |
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Summary Statement of Research Interests |
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| Professor Samantha Butler studies a fundamental issue in development and neuroscience—how the embryonic brain gets wired. Prof. Butler examines the development of neurons in the spinal cord, focusing on how these cells connect with other neurons in the brain's communication network. Specifically, she studies how axons, threadlike extensions of neurons that transmit signals to the neural network, hook up with nearby neurons in a carefully orchestrated process. A series of biochemical cues guide axon growth, with compounds that attract the tip of the axon in one direction or repel it from another direction, to precise targets in the brain. Prof. Butler discovered a "novel chemorepellent” and continues to study these chemorepellents, in part by examining the genetics underlying the process. She aims to understand how the many guidance cues work together. Her long-term goal is to find out whether similar compounds could help re-establish such pathways after paralysis. Prof. Butler's exploration of budding axons and the establishment of new neural connections has already attracted the attention of those interested in finding ways to encourage the re-growth or repair of damaged neurons in the spinal cord—a leading cause of paralysis. Butler has received a grant from the Spinal Cord Research Foundation/Paralyzed Veterans of America to pursue her research. | |
Publications |
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Journal Article |
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Hazen, V. M., Phan, K. D., Hudiburgh, S., Butler, S. J.
(2011).
Inhibitoty Smads can differentially regulate cell fate specification and axon dynamics in the dorsal spinal cord. Developmental Biology.
Vol. 336, pp. 566-575.
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Phan, K. D., Crouteau, L., Kam, J. W., Kania, A., Cloutier, J., Butler, S. J.
(2011).
Neogenin may functionally substitutes for Dcc in chicken. PLoS One.
Vol. 6, pp. e22072.
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Phan, K., Hazan, V. M., Frendo, M., Jia, Z., Butler, S. J.
(2010).
The bone morphogenetic protein roof plate chemorepellent regulates the rate of commissural axonal growth. J Neuroscience.
Vol. 30, pp. 15430-40.
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Hazen, V. M., Phan, K., Yamauchi, K., Butler, S. J.
(2010).
Assaying the ability of diffusible signaling molecules to reorient embryonic spinal commissural axons. J Vis Exp.
Vol. 8, pp. 37.
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Novitch, B. G., Butler, S. J.
(2009).
Reducing the mystery of neuronal differentiation. Cell.
Vol. 138, pp. 1062-1064.
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Yamauchi, K., Phan, K., Butler, S. J.
(2008).
BMP type I receptors have distinct activities in mediating cell fate and axon guidance. Development.
Vol. 135 (6), pp. 1119-28.
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Butler, S. J., Tear, G.
(2007).
Getting axons onto the right path: the role of transcription factors in axon guidance. Development/.
Vol. 134, pp. 439-448.
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Butler, S. J., Dodd, J.
(2003).
A role for BMP heterodimers in roof plate-mediated repulsion of commissural axons. Neuron.
Vol. 38, pp. 389-401.
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Augsburger, A., Schuchardt, A., Hoskins, S., Dodd, J., Butler, S.
(1999).
BMPs as mediators of roof plate repulsion of commissural neurons. Neuron.
Vol. 24, pp. 127-141.
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Honors and Awards |
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USC Zumberge Research and Innovation Fund Award, 2006-2007
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Spinal Cord Research Foundation/Paralyzed Veterans of America, 2000-2002
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