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Ian C Wenker

Ian C Wenker

Assistant Professor, Anesthesiology

Primary Location
Old Medical School
West Complex
Charlottesville, Virginia 22903
Primary Phone Number
434.243.9517
Email
[email protected]
Website
https://med.virginia.edu/wenker-lab/

Bio & Overview

I am an integrative neuroscientist, broadly trained in the neurophysiology of the brainstem, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system. My research focuses on how neural circuitry, ion channels and membrane receptors, and cellular communication (both neuronal and glial) coordinate organismal homeostasis, with particular attention paid to the cardiovascular and breathing systems. These systems are crucial for human health, as their failure can lead to death, and their maladaptation results in hypertension, heart failure, sleep apnea, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), and many other pathologies. My research program’s current focus is to unravel the mechanisms of SUDEP. The causes of SUDEP are poorly understood. To better understand this phenomenon, I employ newly developed mouse models that reproduce the pathology experienced by epilepsy patients, including SUDEP. My laboratory uses techniques to chronically monitor seizures using video/EEG, perform various brain stimulation protocols, and have access to novel genetic approaches applicable to epilepsy research. Furthermore, we combine these approaches with respiratory monitoring, telemetric blood pressure recording, optogenetics, and chemogenetics to understand cardiorespiratory pathology in health and disease.

Academic Information

Department
Anesthesiology

Primary Education

  • BS, Biology, Xavier University, 2005
  • MS, Neuroscience, Wright State University, 2008
  • PhD, Neurobiology and Physiology, University of Connecticut, 2014

Research Interests

Neural control of cardiorespiratory function in health and disease

Research Disciplines

  • Molecular Pharmacology
  • Neuroscience
  • Physiology

Research Opportunities

  • Molecular Pharmacology
  • Molecular and Systems Neuroscience
  • Neuroscience
  • Physiological Basis of Human Disease

PhD Programs

  • Neuroscience

Selected Publications

2022

Wenker, I. C., Wagley, P. K., Boscia, A. R., Lewis, C., & Patel, M. K. (2022). Opto- and Chemogenetic Dissection of Ictal Apnea Neural Circuitry.. FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, 36 Suppl 1. doi:10.1096/fasebj.2022.36.s1.r2354

Thompson, J. A., Miralles, R. M., Wengert, E. R., Wagley, P. K., Yu, W., Wenker, I. C., & Patel, M. K. (2022). Astrocyte reactivity in a mouse model of SCN8A epileptic encephalopathy. EPILEPSIA OPEN, 7(2), 280-292. doi:10.1002/epi4.12564

Wenker, I. C., Boscia, A. R., Lewis, C., Tariq, A., Miralles, R., Hanflink, J. C., . . . Patel, M. K. (2022). Forebrain epileptiform activity is not required for seizure-induced apnea in a mouse model of Scn8a epilepsy. FRONTIERS IN NEURAL CIRCUITS, 16. doi:10.3389/fncir.2022.1002013

2021

Wengert, E. R., Wagley, P. K., Strohm, S. M., Reza, N., Wenker, I. C., Gaykema, R. P., . . . Patel, M. K. (2022). Targeted Augmentation of Nuclear Gene Output (TANGO) of Scn1a rescues parvalbumin interneuron excitability and reduces seizures in a mouse model of Dravet Syndrome. BRAIN RESEARCH, 1775. doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2021.147743

Wengert, E. R., Miralles, R. M., Wedgwood, K. C. A., Wagley, P. K., Strohm, S. M., Panchal, P. S., . . . Patel, M. K. (2021). Somatostatin-Positive Interneurons Contribute to Seizures in SCN8A Epileptic Encephalopathy. JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, 41(44), 9257-9273. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0718-21.2021

Wenker, I. C., Teran, F. A., Wengert, E. R., Wagley, P. K., Panchal, P. S., Blizzard, E. A., . . . Patel, M. K. (2021). Postictal Death Is Associated with Tonic Phase Apnea in a Mouse Model of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy. ANNALS OF NEUROLOGY, 89(5), 1023-1035. doi:10.1002/ana.26053

Wenker, I. C., Blizzard, E. A., Wagley, P. K., & Patel, M. K. (2022). Peri-Ictal Autonomic Control of Cardiac Function and Seizure-Induced Death. FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE, 15. doi:10.3389/fnins.2021.795145

Wengert, E. R., Wenker, I. C., Wagner, E. L., Wagley, P. K., Gaykema, R. P., Shin, J. -B., & Patel, M. K. (2021). Adrenergic Mechanisms of Audiogenic Seizure-Induced Death in a Mouse Model of SCN8A Encephalopathy. FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE, 15. doi:10.3389/fnins.2021.581048

2017

Guyenet, P. G., Bayliss, D. A., Stornetta, R. L., Kanbar, R., Shi, Y., Holloway, B. B., . . . Wenker, I. C. (2018). Interdependent feedback regulation of breathing by the carotid bodies and the retrotrapezoid nucleus. JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON, 596(15), 3029-3042. doi:10.1113/JP274357

Hawkins, V. E., Takakura, A. C., Trinh, A., Malheiros-Lima, M. R., Cleary, C. M., Wenker, I. C., . . . Mulkey, D. K. (2017). Purinergic regulation of vascular tone in the retrotrapezoid nucleus is specialized to support the drive to breathe. ELIFE, 6. doi:10.7554/eLife.25232

Wenker, I. C., Abe, C., Viar, K. E., Stornetta, D. S., Stornetta, R. L., & Guyenet, P. G. (2017). Blood Pressure Regulation by the Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla in Conscious Rats: Effects of Hypoxia, Hypercapnia, Baroreceptor Denervation, and Anesthesia. JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, 37(17), 4565-4583. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3922-16.2017

2016

Guyenet, P. G., Bayliss, D. A., Stornetta, R. L., Ludwig, M. -G., Kumar, N. N., Shi, Y., . . . Wenker, I. C. (2016). Proton detection and breathing regulation by the retrotrapezoid nucleus. JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON, 594(6), 1529-1551. doi:10.1113/JP271480

2015

Moreira, T. S., Wenker, I. C., Sobrinho, C. R., Barna, B. F., Takakura, A. C., & Mulkey, D. K. (2015). Independent purinergic mechanisms of central and peripheral chemoreception in the rostral ventrolateral medulla. JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON, 593(5), 1067-1074. doi:10.1113/jphysiol.2014.284430

Wenker, I., Inglis, M., Guyenet, P., & Stornetta, R. (2015). NPY is Co-localized with TH in Ventrolateral Medullary Neurons Projecting to the Hypothalamus in Mice. In FASEB JOURNAL Vol. 29. Retrieved from https://www.webofscience.com/

2014

Bassi, M., Furuya, W. I., Menani, J. V., Colombari, D. S. A., do Carmo, J. M., da Silva, A. A., . . . Colombari, E. (2014). Leptin into the ventrolateral medulla facilitates chemorespiratory response in leptin-deficient (ob/ob) mice. ACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, 211(1), 240-248. doi:10.1111/apha.12257

Sobrinho, C. R., Wenker, I. C., Poss, E. M., Takakura, A. C., Moreira, T. S., & Mulkey, D. K. (2014). Purinergic signalling contributes to chemoreception in the retrotrapezoid nucleus but not the nucleus of the solitary tract or medullary raphe. JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON, 592(6), 1309-1323. doi:10.1113/jphysiol.2013.268490

2013

Wenker, I. C., Sobrinho, C. R., Takakura, A. C., Mulkey, D. K., & Moreira, T. S. (2013). P2Y1 Receptors Expressed by C1 Neurons Determine Peripheral Chemoreceptor Modulation of Breathing, Sympathetic Activity, and Blood Pressure. HYPERTENSION, 62(2), 263-273. doi:10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.113.01487

2012

Hawryluk, J. M., Moreira, T. S., Takakura, A. C., Wenker, I. C., Tzingounis, A. V., & Mulkey, D. K. (2012). KCNQ Channels Determine Serotonergic Modulation of Ventral Surface Chemoreceptors and Respiratory Drive. JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, 32(47), 16943-16952. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3043-12.2012

Wenker, I. C., Sobrinho, C. R., Takakura, A. C., Moreira, T. S., & Mulkey, D. K. (2012). Regulation of ventral surface CO2/H+-sensitive neurons by purinergic signalling. JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON, 590(9), 2137-2150. doi:10.1113/jphysiol.2012.229666

2011

Wenker, I. C., Benoit, J. P., Chen, X., Liu, H., Horner, R. L., & Mulkey, D. K. (2012). Nitric oxide activates hypoglossal motoneurons by cGMP-dependent inhibition of TASK channels and cGMP-independent activation of HCN channels. JOURNAL OF NEUROPHYSIOLOGY, 107(5), 1489-1499. doi:10.1152/jn.00827.2011

2010

Mulkey, D. K., & Wenker, I. C. (2011). Astrocyte chemoreceptors: mechanisms of H+ sensing by astrocytes in the retrotrapezoid nucleus and their possible contribution to respiratory drive. In EXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY Vol. 96 (pp. 400-406). doi:10.1113/expphysiol.2010.053140

Wenker, I. C., Kreneisz, O., Nishiyama, A., & Mulkey, D. K. (2010). Astrocytes in the Retrotrapezoid Nucleus Sense H+ by Inhibition of a Kir4.1-Kir5.1-Like Current and May Contribute to Chemoreception by a Purinergic Mechanism. JOURNAL OF NEUROPHYSIOLOGY, 104(6), 3042-3052. doi:10.1152/jn.00544.2010

Wenker, I. (2010). An Active Role for Astrocytes in Synaptic Plasticity?. JOURNAL OF NEUROPHYSIOLOGY, 104(3), 1216-1218. doi:10.1152/jn.00429.2010

Mulkey, D. K., Wenker, I. C., & Kreneisz, O. (2010). Current ideas on central chemoreception by neurons and glial cells in the retrotrapezoid nucleus. JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY, 108(5), 1433-1439. doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.01240.2009

2009

McCarthy, M. C., Moncrief, H., Sands, J. M., Markert, R. J., Hall, L. C., Wenker, I. C., . . . Tchorz, K. M. (2009). Neurologic outcomes with cerebral oxygen monitoring in traumatic brain injury. SURGERY, 146(4), 585-591. doi:10.1016/j.surg.2009.06.059