Medical College of Georgia

Chung Sub Kim, PhD

Assistant Professor
chung sub kimDept. of Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine
Medical College of Georgia

E-mail address: ckim5@augusta.edu
Office phone:  (706) 721-7692

Mailing address:

Dept. of Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine
1120 15th Street, Rm. CA3000
Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University
Augusta, GA 30901

Education:

2006-2011   PhD in Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, TX

2001-2003   MS in Medical Science, Yonsei University, South Korea

1996-2001   BS in Microbiology, Inje University, South Korea

Training:

01/2012 - 04/2020   Postdoctoral fellow, Dept. of Neuroscience, Univ. of Texas at Austin, TX

Research Interests:

The primary focus of my research is to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms of developmental neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression and PTSD. To investigate the nonsynaptic and synaptic plasticity in the brain under both normal and pathological conditions, we use a combination of techniques in the lab:

1) Physiological and pharmacological approaches include whole-cell or cell-attached patch-clamp recordings (with or without In vivo drug administration via cannulation) at the soma or dendrite, and extracellular field potential recordings. 2) Morphological approaches include single-cell labeling, immunocytochemistry, and neuronal reconstruction. 3) Molecular approaches include viral-mediated gene delivery (e.g., overexpression and knockdown), western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and single-cell RT-PCR. 4) Behavioral approaches include open field test, elevated plus maze test, light/dark box test, sucrose preference test, and forced swim test. 5) We use chronic stress or acute stress to generate an animal model of depression or PTSD. These multidisciplinary approaches enable us to conduct research projects associated with developmental neuropsychiatry disorders such as depression and PTSD.

Selected Publications:

  1. Kim, J., Lei, Y., Lu, XY, and Kim CS.  Glucocorticoid-glucocorticoid receptor-HCN1 channels reduce neuronal excitability in dorsal hippocampal CA1 neurons. Molecular Psychiatry (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-022-01682-9
  2. Kim CS, Johnston D (2020). Antidepressant Effects of (S)-Ketamine through a Reduction of Hyperpolarization-Activated Current Ih.  iScience. 23(6):101239. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101239.
  3. Kim CS, Brager D, and Johnston D (2018). Perisomatic changes in h-channels regulate depressive behaviors following chronic unpredictable stress. Molecular Psychiatry. 23(4):892-903.
  4. Kim CS, Johnston D (2018). A Possible Link Between HCN Channels and Depression. Chronic Stress. 2:2470547018787781. doi: 10.1177/2470547018787781.
  5. Kim CS and Johnston D (2015). A1 adenosine receptor-mediated GIRK channels contribute to the resting conductance of CA1 neurons in the dorsal hippocampus.J Neurophysiology. 113(7):2511-23.
  6. Kim CS, Chang PY, and Johnston D (2012). Knockdown of HCN1 in dorsal hippocampus enhance network activity and leads to anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects. Neuron 9;75(3):503-16.