The Birdsong Lab at the University of Michigan

The Birdsong lab is investigating the molecules and circuits involved in mediating pain perception and addiction. We’re particularly interested in the mechanisms by which opioids modulate synaptic transmission and the results of this activation on circuit function. Our current work focuses on opioid signaling in thalamo-cortical and thalamo-striatal circuits.

Our studies utilize electrophysiological and imaging techniques to study the function and pharmacology of mu, delta, and kappa opioid receptors in modulating synaptic transmission. We combine these approaches with optogenetic and pharmacological manipulation of circuitry in mouse and rats to better understand how drugs of abuse such as morphine and fentanyl change communication between the thalamus, cortex, and striatum to affect pain and addiction related behaviors.

Lab Members

Will Birdsong
Assistant Professor Pharmacology
PhD, Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, 2008
BS, Biochemistry, University of Oregon, 2000

Liz Jaeckel
Graduate Student, Pharmacology, University of Michigan
B.S. Neuroscience, University of Michigan, 2016

Yoani Herrera
Research Lab Specialist Associate
B.S.E. Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2018

Alberto Perez-Medina, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
PhD, Neuroscience, Michigan State University 2019

Erwin Arias-Hervert
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Ph.D., Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 2016

BIRDSONG LAB WEST

Sweta Adhikary
M.D./ Ph.D. Candidate, Medicine & Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University
B.A. University of Colorado, Integrative Physiology & Psychology, 2014

Sweta is an MD/PhD student in Birdsong Lab West. If you can’t find her at her rig and it’s sunny outside she probably took the day off to soak up the rare Portland sun. If it’s rainy out and she’s still missing, then she’s probably cuddling with her cat.

ALUMNI

Kim Engeln
Research Technician, Oregon Health & Science University
B.S. Psychology & Neuroscience, Washington State University, 2017

After using electrophysiology and microscopy techniques to study opioid modulation of thalamo-cortico-striatal circuits in the Birdsong Lab, I spent a year with Chris Cunningham using Pavlovian conditioning to study cue-induced alcohol seeking. I am currently a first-year student in OHSU’s Neuroscience Graduate Program where I will continue to examine mechanisms underlying drug addiction using electrophysiological and behavioral techniques. Outside of the lab, I spend my free time hiking around the Pacific Northwest, playing drums with my band, and using my background in animal behavior to teach my cat new tricks.

Dale Fortin
Senior Research Associate, Oregon Health & Science University
B.S. Exercise Physiology, Plymouth College, 1996
M.S. Exercise Physiology, Springfield College, 1998

News

Group members

Welcome Marie Walicki!

Paper

Paper Published in eLIFE

Publications

Click here to view our most recent paper.

Fjeld CC, Birdsong WT, Goodman RH. 2003
Differential binding of NAD+ and NADH allows the transcriptional corepressor carboxyl-terminal binding protein to serve as a metabolic sensor.
Proc Natl Acad Sci USA; 100(16):9202-7.

Virk MS, Arttamangkul S, Birdsong WT, Williams JT. 2009
Buprenorphine is a weak partial agonist that inhibits opioid receptor desensitization.
J Neurosci; 29(22):7341-8

Kawate T, Michel JC, Birdsong WT, Gouaux E. 2009
Crystal structure of the ATP-gated ion channel P2X4 in the closed state
Nature; 460 (7255): 592-8

Birdsong WT*, Fierro L*, Williams FG, Spelta V, Naves LA, Knowles M, Marsh-Haffner J, Adelman JP, Almers W, McCleskey EW. 2010
Sensing muscle ischemia: Coincident detection of acid and ATP via interplay of two ion channels.
Neuron; 68(4): 739-49

Birdsong WT, Arttamangkul S, Clark MJ, Cheng K, Rice KC, Traynor JR, Williams JT. 2013
Increased agonist affinity at the mu-opioid receptor induced by prolonged agonist exposure.
J Neurosci, 33(9): 4118-4127

Arttamangkul S, Birdsong WT, Williams JT. 2015
Does PKC activation increase the homologous desensitization of mu-opioid receptor?
Brit J Pharm, 172 (2): 583-592

Birdsong WT, Arttamangkul S, Bunzow J, Williams JT. 2015
Agonist binding and desensitization of the mu-opioid receptor is modulated by phosphorylation of the C-terminal tail domain.
Mol. Pharm, 88(4): 816-824. doi: 10.1124/mol.114.097527

Hunnicutt BJ, Jongbloets BC, Birdsong WT, Gertz KJ, Zhong H, Mao T. 2016
A comprehensive excitatory input map of the striatum reveals novel functional organization. eLife. 2016 Nov 28; 5: e19103.

Birdsong WT*^, Jongbloets BC*, Engeln KA, Wang D, Scherrer G, Mao T^. 2019
Synapse-specific opioid modulation of thalamo-cortico-striatal circuits.
eLife, 2019;8:e45146.

Photos

Join The Birdsong Lab

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS
We are always interested in hearing from motivated trainees. Please send an e-mail with a short note about your background and interest in our lab, your CV, and PDFs of representative publications to Will at wtbird@med.umich.edu.

GRADUATE STUDENTS
The lab belongs to several Michigan Ph.D. programs and may accept rotation students at any time of year. Please e-mail will at wtbird@med.umich.edu to discuss a possible rotation. Advance notice (one month or more) is preferred.

UNDERGRADUATES
Please send an e-mail with a short note about your interest in our lab, your CV, and a transcript to Will at wtbird@med.umich.edu.

STAFF
There are currently no open staff positions in the lab.

Contact

Email Will at wtbird@med.umich.edu.

1150 West Medical Center Drive
2301 Medical Science Research Building III
Ann Arbor, MI 48109