Paul D. Marasco, Ph.D.

Room: RIC 1309 (office), Room: 4-710B Tarry Annex (laboratory)

Phone: 312-238-2086
Email: p-marasco@northwestern.edu  
 
Post Doctoral Fellow
Sensory Neurophysiologist
Neural Engineering Center for Artificial Limbs
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago

Research Interests

Dr. Marasco investigates the sense of touch that develops in amputated patients who have undergone the Targeted Reinnervation procedure to improve the function of myoelectric prosthetic limbs. In particular, Dr. Marasco employs a diverse array of scientific approaches, ranging from human psychophysical experiments to animal model work, to probe the mechanisms of neural regeneration, peripheral and central neural plasticity, and sensory integration with prosthetic devices.

Education

• Ph.D. Neuroscience, Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, 2006
• B.A. Biology, University of Colorado, 1999

Professional Associations and Activities

Society for Neuroscience, Member

Honors and Awards

Globe Foundation Fellowship, 2006
Fine Science Tools Travel Award, 2004
Fundamental Neuroscience Training Grant, 2002-2004
Zaebst Memorial Fellowship, 1998-1999
ColoradoScholars Award, 1997-1998 & 1998-1999
Most Promising Biology Student, UCCS, 1994

Selected Publications

• Kuiken TA, Marasco PD, Lock B, Harden RN, Dewald JPA. (2007) Redirection of cutaneous sensation from the hand to the chest skin of human amputees with targeted reinnervation. PNAS, 104(50):20061-20066.
• Marasco PD, Tsuruda PR, Bautista DM, Catania KC. (2007) The fine structure of Eimer’s organ in the coast mole (Scapanus orarius). Anat Rec. 290: 437-448.
• Marasco PD, and Catania KC. (2007) Response properties of primary afferents supplying Eimer’s organ. J Exp Biol. 210: 765-780.
• Kuiken TA, Miller LA, Lipschutz RD, Lock BA, Stubblefield K, Marasco PD, Zhou P, Dumanian GA. (2007) Targeted reinnervation for enhanced prosthetic arm function in a woman with proximal amputation. The Lancet 369: 371-380.
• Marasco PD, Tsuruda PR, Bautista DM, Julius D, Catania KC. (2006) Neuroanatomical evidence for segregation of nerve fibers conveying light touch and pain sensation in Eimer's organ of the mole. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 103: 9339-9344.
• Henry EC, Marasco PD, Catania KC. (2005) Plasticity of the cortical dentition representation after tooth extraction in naked mole-rats. Journal of Comparative Neurology 485: 64-74.
• Appel, B., P. Marasco, L. McClung and A.J. Latimer (2003) lunatic fringe Regulates delta-notch induction of hypochord in zebrafish. Developmental Dynamics 228: 2810-286.
• Crish, S.D., C. Comer, P. D. Marasco and K.C. Catania (2003) Somatosensation in the superior colliculus of the star-nosed mole. Journal of Comparative Neurology 464: 415-425.