Alexander S. Kauffman
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Alexander S. Kauffman , PhD Telephone: (858) 246-0269 Administrative Assistant: Visit our site at: The Kauffman Lab |
Education and Training
University of California, Berkeley, CA. Ph.D. in Integrative Biology, 2002University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA. Post-Doctoral Fellow, 2002 – 2005
University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Senior Post-Doctoral Fellow, 2005 –2008
Honors and Awards
NICHD R00 Individual grant in Reproductive Neuroendocrinology (HD056157; Jan 2009 – Dec, 2011)
Young Investigator Award, US-Japan Symposium on Steroid Hormone Receptors in the Brain (2008)
Young Investigator Award, Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology (2004)
Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor, University of California, Berkeley (1999-2000)
Teaching Effectiveness Award, University of California, Berkeley (2000)
Service and Society Memberships
Neuroendocrinology, Editorial Board member
Faculty of 1000, Associate Faculty Member
Ad-hoc journal reviewer: American Journal of Physiology, Endocrinology, Biology of Reproduction, Hormones and Behavior, Neuroscience, Neuroendocrinology, Journal of Neuroendocrinology, Physiology and Behavior, Journal of Biological Rhythms, Comparative Biochemistry & Physiology; Journal of Endocrinology, Peptides, Behavioral Brain Research, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology
Society for Neuroscience (SFN), member
Endocrine Society, member
Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology (SBN), member
Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology, Program Committee member, 2009-2011
Research Interests
I am interested in how the brain controls reproduction (i.e., reproductive neuroendocrinology). Specifically, I study how neuropeptides in specific brain regions stimulate or inhibit reproductive control centers in the forebrain, and how these processes ultimately affect an animal's reproductive physiology and fertility. I am also interested in how these neural regulatory circuits are themselves influenced by developmental factors, hormones, neural signals, and environmental factors (food, stress, photoperiod, etc.) both in adulthood as well as during critical periods of development such as puberty and sexual differentiation. The long-term goal is to apply what we learn about the neuroendocrine control of reproduction to improving and advancing medical and therapeutic treatments of human infertility, precocious or delayed puberty, and other reproductive disorders.
Selected Publications
Roseweir A, Kauffman AS, Smith JT, Morgan K, Pielecka-Fortuna J, Pineda P, Gottsch ML, Tena-Sempere M, Moenter SM, Clarke I, Steiner RA, and RP Millar. Discovery of potent kisspeptin antagonists delineate physiological mechanisms of gonadotropin regulation. Journal of Neuroscience (In Press) 2009
Kauffman, AS. Sexual differentiation and the Kiss1 system: hormonal and developmental considerations. Peptides 30(1):83-93, 2009
Kauffman, AS, Park, JH. McPhie-Lalmansingh, AA, Gottsch, ML, Bodo, C, Clifton, DK, Steiner, RA, and EF Rissman. The kisspeptin receptor GPR54 is required for sexual differentiation of the brain and behavior. Journal of Neuroscience, 27(33): 8826-8835; 2007
*Featured in “This week in the Journal” in the August 15 issue.
Kauffman, AS, Clifton, DK, and RA Steiner. Emerging ideas about kisspeptin-GPR54 signaling the neuroendocrine regulation of reproduction. Trends in Neuroscience 30: 504-511, 2007
Kauffman, AS, Gottsch, ML, Roa, J, Byquist, A, Crown, A, Clifton, DK, Hoffman, GE, Steiner, RA, and M Tena-Sempere. Sexual differentiation of Kiss1 gene expression in the brain of the rat. Endocrinology, 148: 1774-1783, 2007.
Kauffman, AS, Bojkowska, K, Wills, A, and EF Rissman. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone-II mRNA and protein content in the mammalian brain are modulated by food intake. Endocrinology 147: 5069-5077, 2006.
Park, JH, Kauffman, AS, Paul, MJ, Butler, MP, Beery, AK, Costantini, RM, and I Zucker. Interval timer control of puberty in photo-inhibited Siberian hamsters. Journal of Biological Rhythms 21:373-383, 2006.
Kauffman, AS and EF Rissman. A critical role for the evolutionarily conserved gonadotropin-releasing hormone-II: mediation of energy status and female sexual behavior. Endocrinology 145: 3639-3646, 2004.
Administrative Assistant:
Kristal Cerimele
- Telephone:
- (858) 534-1140