Dr. Shalom Avraham leads the neurobiology efforts in the Division. His research program includes studies of the novel gene NRP/B, which associates with actin and is important in neuronal differentiation. He has extended studies on the effects of chemokines in the nervous system, particularly the role of the novel signaling molecule RAFTK in glutamate-activated signaling pathways in primary astrocytes. Dr. Avraham also is exploring the roles of molecules such as RAFTK in mediating effects of nerve growth factor in neuronal cells.