Robert F. Berman, Ph.D.

Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery, School of Medicine

University of California, Davis
1515 Newton Court
Davis, CA 95616
E-mail:  rfberman@ucdavis.edu

Dr. Berman, a neuroscientist whose research focuses on cellular mechanisms of brain injury, is currently examining the effects of neonatal toxin exposure on brain development and behavior. His laboratory recently developed a set of behavioral testing procedures for evaluating social behaviors in rodents, an essential step in the development of useful models for the study of neurodevelopmental disorders like autism. Dr. Berman’s research and training activities have been funded by the NIH for the past 20 years, and he is currently funded by the NIEHS, NIAAA and NINDS. He is currently Director of Research for the Neurotrauma Research Laboratories at UC Davis.

Greco, CM, Berman, R. F., Martin, RM, Tassone, F. Schwartz, P., Becker, E. J., Papazian, J., Hagerman, R. J. & Hagerman, P. J. Neuropathology of fragile X-associated tremor/ataxis syndrome (FXTAS). Brain, 129:243-255.

Burke K, Cheng Y, Li B, Petrov A, Joshi P, Berman RF, Reuhl KR, DiCicco-Bloom E. Methylmercury elicits rapid inhibition of cell proliferation in the developing brain and decreases cell cycle regulator, cyclin E. Neurotoxicology. 2006; 27:970-81.

Jaubert PJ, Golub MS, Lo YY, Germann SL, Dehoff MH, Worley PF, Kang SH, Schwarz MK, Seeburg PH, Berman RF. Complex, multimodal behavioral profile of the Homer1 knockout mouse. Genes Brain Behav. 2007; 6:141-54.

Hannigan, J.H., O’Leary-Moore, S.K. & Berman, R.F.  Postnatal environmental or experiential amelioration of neurobehavioral effects of perinatal alcohol exposure in rats.  Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews.  2007; 31:202-211.

Berman RF, Pessah IN, Mouton PR, Mav D, Harry J. Low-level neonatal thimerosal exposure: further evaluation of altered neurotoxic potential in SJL mice. Toxicol Sci. 2008;101:294-309

Pessah IN, Seegal RF, Lein PJ, Lasalle J, Yee BK, Van De Water J, Berman RF. Immunologic and neurodevelopmental susceptibilities of autism. Neurotoxicology. 2008; 29(3): 532-45. 

Parks, E.A., McMechan, A.P., Hannigan, J.H. & Berman, R.F.  Environmental enrichment alters neurotrophin levels after fetal alcohol exposure in rats.  Alcoholism:  Clin. Exp. Research.  2008; 32(10): 1741-1751.

Brouwer, J.R., Huizer, K., Severijnen, L-A., Hukema, R.K., Berman, R.F., Oostra, B.A. & Willemsen, R.  CGG-repeat length and neuropathological and molecular correlates in a mouse model for fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome.  J. Neurochemistry, 107:1672-1682, 2008.

Examination of Thimerosal Effects in Neonatal SJL/J Mice at Vaccination-Associated Exposure Levels, 11th International Neurotoxicology Association Meeting at Asilomar, Pacific Grove, CA., 2008

Mouse behavioral tasks relevant to the study of autism symptoms., Baltimore, MD.  Dr. Berman was an invited speaker at a mouse behavior workshop organized by Autism Speaks, 2008

Ubiquitin-positive Intranuclear Inclusions in Astrocytes and Bergmann Gila of CGG Knock-in Mice, 11 International Fragile X Symposium in St. Louis, MO.  Dr. Berman was an invited speaker at this research conference focused on Fragile X associated disorders. 2008

Reduced neural plasticity following prenatal alcohol exposure., Ankara, Turkey, Middle-East Technical University (METU) Department of Biological Science. Dr. Berman was an invited speaker at an international workshop on Perinatal and Adult Ethanol Intake and Brain Development and Behavior, 2008

Principal Investigator, Mouse Models of Fragile X Associated Tremor/Ataxia, NIH-NINDS

Co-Investigator, Environmental Factors in the Etiology of Autism: Animal Models of Autism.  Pessah – Center Director, NIH - NIEHS and EPA

Co-Investigator, Epigenetic interaction of MECP2 and organic pollutants in neurodevelopment.  LaSalle - Principal Investigator, NIH-NIEHS

National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship Panel in Physiology and Neuroscience 2005-2007
National Institutes of Health – Ad hoc review committees
Member, Internal Advisory Committee, Center for Children’s Environmental Health, UC Davis
Member, Oversight Committee, Neurotherapeutics Research Institute, UC Davis
Chair, Graduate Group in Neuroscience, UC Davis
Chair, Research Space Advisory Committee, UC Davis School of Medicine
Chair, Committee on Research Policy, UC Davis

National Associate of the National Academy of Science (lifetime membership)