Dr. Fish received his PhD in molecular microbiology and immunology from the Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) in 1998.  He obtained postdoctoral training at OHSU and The Scripps Research Institute, and was a member of the Scripps Department of Neuropharmacology faculty prior to his recruitment as an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry by the University of Pittsburgh in 2005.

A nationally and internationally recognized leader in quantitative fluorescence microscopy, Dr. Fish has used this sophisticated approach to further develop research efforts in such complex behavioral health disorders as schizophrenia.  The goal of his work is to identify pre- and postsynaptic cell-type specific alterations (morphological and molecular) that occur in schizophrenia, and to ultimately help develop animal models of the disease that can be used to develop pharmacological interventions and improved therapeutics. Dr. Fish collaborates extensively with colleagues in the Translational Neuroscience Program to develop the necessary tools to accomplish this goal. He is currently using these tools to study synaptic levels of 4-5 different proteins simultaneously in postmortem brain tissue, a feat considered improbable a short time ago.  Dr. Fish has served as the Principal Investigator for numerous research grants throughout his career including two NARSAD Young Investigator Awards, a career development award, a UPMC Medical Research Fund Award, an R21 and an R01. He has widely disseminated findings through presentations in the US and Mexico, and through peer-reviewed articles in leading scientific journals including Biological Psychiatry, Molecular Psychiatry, and the American Journal of Psychiatry.  

Learning Objectives:   At the conclusion of this lecture, participants will be able to: 

State the 3 key GABA neuron subtypes that influence the local circuitry in the human prefrontal cortex.
Recall how key GABA neuron subtypes are altered in schizophrenia and in which cortical layer(s) these alterations occur.
Summarize the potential functional meaning of the GABA changes in the prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia.

For more information regarding this lecture, please contact Frances Patrick via email atpatrickfm@upmc.edu or by calling 412-246-6787.

Continuing Education Credit:  The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.  The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM.  Each physician should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.  Other health care professionals are awarded .15 continuing education units (CEUs), which are equal to 1.5 contact hours.  In accordance with Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education requirements on disclosure, information about relationships of presenters with commercial interests (if any) will be included in materials which will be distributed at the time of the conference.  WPIC is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists.  WPIC maintains responsibility for this program and its contents.  This program is being offered for 1.5 continuing education credits.