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Elise Cope

Elise Cope

Assistant Professor, Neuroscience

Primary Location
409 Lane Rd
MR4-5010
Charlottesville, Virginia 22908
Primary Phone Number

Bio & Overview

What are the mechanisms by which neuronal and nonneuronal forms of structural plasticity contribute to social memory in the healthy and diseased brain? To answer this question, my lab uses a variety of pharmacologic, transgenic, viral, and environmental manipulations combined with histology, in vivo electrophysiology, and behavioral analyses. We focus on the hippocampus, a brain region that not only plays an important role in social memory, but also undergoes substantial plasticity into adulthood. Ongoing projects explore adult-born granule cells, glia, and perineuronal nets in mediating hippocampal plasticity and social memory with the ultimate goal of our work to understand the impact of the collective interactions of these cells and extracellular structures.

Academic Information

Department
Neuroscience

Primary Education

  • BS, Biology, Florida State Universitynull
  • PhD, Biomedical Science, Florida State Universitynull
  • Postdoc, Neuroscience, Princeton Universitynull

Other Affiliations

  • MSTP

Research Interests

Adult-born neurons, perineuronal nets, and microglia in hippocampal plasticity and behavior in health and disease

Research Disciplines

  • Cell and Developmental Biology
  • Development, Stem Cells & Regeneration
  • Neuroimmunology
  • Neuroscience

Research Opportunities

  • Cell Biology
  • Development, Stem Cells & Regeneration
  • Molecular and Systems Neuroscience
  • Neuroimmunology
  • Neuroscience

PhD Programs

  • Cell Biology
  • Neuroscience

Selected Publications

2023

Sanchez, B., Kraszewski, P., Lee, S., & Cope, E. C. (2023). From molecules to behavior: Implications for perineuronal net remodeling in learning and memory. JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY. doi:10.1111/jnc.16036

Cope, E. C., Wang, S. H., Waters, R. C., Gore, I. R., Vasquez, B., Laham, B. J., & Gould, E. (2023). Activation of the CA2-ventral CA1 pathway reverses social discrimination dysfunction in Shank3B knockout mice. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 14(1). doi:10.1038/s41467-023-37248-8

2021

Cope, E. C., Zych, A. D., Katchur, N. J., Waters, R. C., Laham, B. J., Diethorn, E. J., . . . Gould, E. (2022). Atypical perineuronal nets in the CA2 region interfere with social memory in a mouse model of social dysfunction. MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY, 27(8), 3520-3531. doi:10.1038/s41380-021-01174-2

2020

Cope, E. C., Waters, R. C., Diethorn, E. J., Pagliai, K. A., Dias, C. G., Tsuda, M., . . . Gould, E. (2020). Adult-Born Neurons in the Hippocampus Are Essential for Social Memory Maintenance.. eNeuro, 7(6), ENEURO.0182-ENEU20.2020. doi:10.1523/eneuro.0182-20.2020

2019

Cope, E. C., & Gould, E. (2019). Adult Neurogenesis, Glia, and the Extracellular Matrix. CELL STEM CELL, 24(5), 690-705. doi:10.1016/j.stem.2019.03.023

2018

Cope, E. C., Opendak, M., LaMarca, E. A., Murthy, S., Park, C. Y., Olson, L. B., . . . Gould, E. (2019). The effects of living in an outdoor enclosure on hippocampal plasticity and anxiety-like behavior in response to nematode infection. HIPPOCAMPUS, 29(4), 366-377. doi:10.1002/hipo.23033

Cope, E. C., LaMarca, E. A., Monari, P. K., Olson, L. B., Martinez, S., Zych, A. D., . . . Gould, E. (2018). Microglia Play an Active Role in Obesity-Associated Cognitive Decline. JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, 38(41), 8889-8904. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0789-18.2018

2017

Cope, E. C., & Gould, E. (2017). New Evidence Linking Obesity and Food Addiction. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY, 81(9), 734-736. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2017.02.1179

2016

Cope, E. C., Morris, D. R., Gower-Winter, S. D., Brownstein, N. C., & Levenson, C. W. (2016). Effect of zinc supplementation on neuronal precursor proliferation in the rat hippocampus after traumatic brain injury. EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY, 279, 96-103. doi:10.1016/j.expneurol.2016.02.017

Cope, E. C., Briones, B. A., Brockett, A. T., Martinez, S., Vigneron, P. -A., Opendak, M., . . . Gould, E. (2016). Immature Neurons and Radial Glia, But Not Astrocytes or Microglia, Are Altered in Adult Cntnap2 and Shank3 Mice, Models of Autism. ENEURO, 3(5). doi:10.1523/ENEURO.0196-16.2016

2013

Cope, E. C., & Gould, E. (2013). Cytokines Make an Indelible Impression on Neural Stem Cells. CELL STEM CELL, 13(5), 507-508. doi:10.1016/j.stem.2013.10.011

2012

Cope, E. C., Morris, D. R., & Levenson, C. W. (2012). Improving treatments and outcomes: an emerging role for zinc in traumatic brain injury. NUTRITION REVIEWS, 70(7), 410-413. doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2012.00486.x

Cope, E. C., Morris, D. R., Scrimgeour, A. G., & Levenson, C. W. (2012). Use of Zinc as a Treatment for Traumatic Brain Injury in the Rat: Effects on Cognitive and Behavioral Outcomes. NEUROREHABILITATION AND NEURAL REPAIR, 26(7), 907-913. doi:10.1177/1545968311435337

2011

Cope, E. C., Morris, D. R., Scrimgeour, A. G., VanLandingham, J. W., & Levenson, C. W. (2011). Zinc supplementation provides behavioral resiliency in a rat model of traumatic brain injury. PHYSIOLOGY & BEHAVIOR, 104(5), 942-947. doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2011.06.007

2010

Cope, E. C., & Levenson, C. W. (2010). Role of zinc in the development and treatment of mood disorders. CURRENT OPINION IN CLINICAL NUTRITION AND METABOLIC CARE, 13(6), 685-689. doi:10.1097/MCO.0b013e32833df61a