John H. Leonard, Ph.D.Assistant Professor of NeuroscienceBiomedical Sciences Office: A329Phone: (304) 647-6274
Postdoctoral Research AssociateBiomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
Ph.D. Neurology and BehaviorUniversity of Virginia
B.S. PsychologyVirginia Tech
My lab utilizes weakly electric fishes to conduct research related to neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and neuroethology. Currently, my research focus is on temporal processing, which is the mechanism by which the nervous system detects and interprets time-sensitive information. Projects center on exploring the organization and function of these circuits, along with their eventual output at sensorimotor interfaces.
I am also interested in and have previously studied the pathological basis for loss of structure and function in the nervous system, including traumatic brain injuries and epilepsy.
1. Leonard J, Matsushita A, Kawasaki M. Morphology and receptive field organization of a temporal processing region in Apteronotus albifrons. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol. 2022 May;208(3):405-420. doi: 10.1007/s00359-022-01546-1. Epub 2022 Mar 1. PMID: 35233699.
2. Leonard J, Wei X, Browning J, Gudenschwager-Basso EK, Li J, Harris EA, Olsen ML, Theus MH. Transcriptomic alterations in cortical astrocytes following the development of post-traumatic epilepsy. Sci Rep. 2024 Apr 10;14(1):8367. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-58904-z. PMID: 38600221; PMCID: PMC11006850.
3. Fritsch LE, Kelly C, Leonard J, de Jager C, Wei X, Brindley S, Harris EA, Kaloss AM, DeFoor N, Paul S, O'Malley H, Ju J, Olsen ML, Theus MH, Pickrell AM. STING-Dependent Signaling in Microglia or Peripheral Immune Cells Orchestrates the Early Inflammatory Response and Influences Brain Injury Outcome. J Neurosci. 2024 Mar 20;44(12):e0191232024. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0191-23.2024. PMID: 38360749; PMCID: PMC10957216.
4. Soliman E, Leonard J, Basso EKG, Gershenson I, Ju J, Mills J, de Jager C, Kaloss AM, Elhassanny M, Pereira D, Chen M, Wang X, Theus MH. Efferocytosis is restricted by axon guidance molecule EphA4 via ERK/Stat6/MERTK signaling following brain injury. J Neuroinflammation. 2023 Nov 9;20(1):256. doi: 10.1186/s12974-023-02940-5. PMID: 37941008; PMCID: PMC10633953.
5. Kawasaki M, Leonard J. Phase-locking behavior in a high-frequency gymnotiform weakly electric fish, Adontosternarchus. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol. 2017 Feb;203(2):151-162. doi: 10.1007/s00359-017-1148-x. Epub 2017 Feb 11. PMID: 28190119.