Erin M. Gibson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Erin M. Gibson
Born	St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Alma mater	BS Duke University, PhD University of California, Berkeley, postdoctoral work Stanford University
Known for	Circadian disruptions lead to decreases in hippocampal cell proliferation
Scientific career
Fields	Glial biology, circadian biology
Institutions	Stanford University

Erin M. Gibson is a scientist who studies the brain. She is a professor at Stanford University. Her work focuses on special brain cells called glial cells. She also studies how our body's internal clock, called the circadian rhythm, affects these cells.

Early Life and Education

Erin Gibson grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. She went to high school at Whitfield School. She became interested in how the brain works after doing a research internship. Her biology teacher encouraged her to explore science.

College and Graduate School

After high school, Erin went to Duke University. She studied psychology and neuroscience there. She worked in a lab, learning how food and hormones affect brain development. She graduated from Duke in 2005.

In 2006, Erin moved to California for her graduate studies. She went to the University of California, Berkeley. There, she joined a lab to study the body's internal clock, the circadian system.

How Our Body Clock Affects the Brain

Erin Gibson studied how changes in our body's clock can affect our brain. She looked at what happens when our sleep-wake cycle gets messed up, like when we travel across many time zones. This is often called "jet lag."

She did experiments with animals to create "experimental jet lag." She found that these changes in the light and dark cycle caused problems in the brain. Specifically, it reduced the growth of new brain cells in a part of the brain called the hippocampus. This area is important for learning and memory.

Her research showed that jet lag can lead to problems with learning and memory. These negative effects can even last for a long time. Her important findings were shared by news groups like ABC Science, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, and Time.

Postdoctoral Research at Stanford

After finishing her graduate studies in 2011, Erin Gibson went to Stanford University. She continued her research there, focusing on how brain activity affects myelin. Myelin is a protective layer around nerve cells.

Understanding Brain Changes from Cancer Treatment

Some cancer treatments, like chemotherapy, can cause side effects. Patients might have trouble with memory, attention, and focus. This is sometimes called "chemo brain." Erin Gibson wanted to understand why this happens.

She focused on glial cells, especially those that make myelin. She found that chemotherapy can harm these cells. Her research showed that a type of glial cell called microglia can become overactive. This leads to problems for other important brain cells.

Her work suggests that if we can stop microglia from becoming overactive, we might be able to protect the brain from these side effects. This could help cancer patients keep their memory and thinking skills sharp.

Career and Research

In 2020, Erin Gibson started her own research lab at Stanford University. She is now an assistant professor. Her lab studies how glial cells work in the brain. She is especially interested in how our body's internal clock affects these cells.

Advocating for Scientists

Erin Gibson is a strong supporter of women in science. She especially helps mothers who are also scientists. She is part of a group called "A Working Group of Mothers in Science."

This group works to solve problems like the lack of childcare at science conferences. They want to make it easier for parents to attend these important events. Erin has written articles in science magazines like Nature and Science. She talks about how to make science careers more welcoming for everyone. She also believes that scientists should be able to explain personal challenges that might affect their careers.

Select Publications

• Gibson EM, Nagaraja S, Ocampo A, Tam L, Wood LS, Pallegar PN, Greene JJ, Geraghty AC, Goldstein AK, Ni L, Woo PJ, Barres BA, Liddelow SA, Vogel H, & Monje M (2019). Methotrexate chemotherapy induces persistent tri-glial dysregulation that underlies chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment. Cell, 176, 43–55.
• Geraghty AC, Gibson EM, Ghanem RA, Greene JJ, Ocampo A, Goldstein AK, Ni L, Yang T, Marton RM, Pasca SP, Greenberg ME, Longo FM, & Monje M (2019). Loss of adaptive myelination contributes to methotrexate chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment Neuron, 103, 2, 250–265.
• Gibson EM, Purger D, Mount CW, Goldstein AK, Lin GL, Wood LS, Inema I, Miller SE, Bieri G, Zuchero JB, Barres BA, Woo PJ, Vogel H, & Monje M (2014). Neuronal activity promotes oligodendrogenesis and adaptive myelination in the mammalian brain. Science, 2014; 344 (6183): 487-?
• Gibson EM, Wang C, Tjho S, Khattar N & Kriegsfeld LJ (2010). Experimental 'jet lag' inhibits adult neurogenesis and produces long-term cognitive deficits in female hamsters. PLOS One, 5,12.