World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!

D-Index & Metrics

Neuroscience

D-Index
64
Citations
16250
World Ranking
3238
National Ranking
1502

Biology and Biochemistry

D-Index
64
Citations
16222
World Ranking
9582
National Ranking
4231

Overview

Karen L. O'Malley is affiliated with Washington University in St. Louis in the United States. Their research primarily focuses on neuroscience and related biochemical and molecular biology aspects. The scientist has contributed to several fields including neuroscience, biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology.

The main fields of study in their work include:

  • Neuroscience
  • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Their subfields of study emphasize more specialized areas such as:

  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

O'Malley's research topics cover diverse areas in neuroscience and neuropharmacology, with particular attention to receptor mechanisms and signaling pathways. These topics also include photoreceptor and optogenetics research, genetics and neurodevelopmental disorders, and ion channel regulation and function.

  • Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling
  • Photoreceptor and Optogenetics Research
  • Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Ion Channel Regulation and Function

A number of recent papers provide insight into their active research contributions. These papers focus on metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGlu5) and its role in synaptic plasticity and calcium signaling within striatal neurons. Recent publications include:

  • Activation of Endoplasmic Reticulum-Localized Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 (mGlu5) Triggers Calcium Release Distinct from Cell Surface Counterparts in Striatal Neurons, 2025, Biomolecules
  • Striatal mGlu5-mediated synaptic plasticity is independently regulated by location-specific receptor pools and divergent signaling pathways, 2023, Journal of Biological Chemistry
  • Intracellular metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGlu5) triggers ER calcium release distinct from cell surface counterparts in striatal neurons, 2023, Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics

Frequent collaborators with O'Malley include:

  • Yuh-Jiin I. Jong
  • Steven K. Harmon
  • Yukitoshi Izumi
  • Charles F. Zorumski

The scholar's work has been published in journals such as the Journal of Biological Chemistry, Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, and Biomolecules.

  • Journal of Biological Chemistry
  • Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
  • Biomolecules

Best Publications

  • Long-term gene expression and phenotypic correction using adeno-associated virus vectors in the mammalian brain

    Michael G. Kaplitt;Paola Leone;Richard J. Samulski;Xiao Xiao

  • Distribution of metabotropic glutamate receptor mGluR5 immunoreactivity in rat brain.

    Carmelo Romano;Michael A. Sesma;Michael A. Sesma;Colin T. McDonald;Karen O'malley

  • Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 Is a Disulfide-linked Dimer

    Carmelo Romano;Wan Lin Yang;Karen L. O'Malley

  • Distinct Mechanisms Underlie Neurotoxin-Mediated Cell Death in Cultured Dopaminergic Neurons

    Julie Lotharius;Laura L. Dugan;Karen L. O’Malley

  • Axon degeneration in Parkinson's disease.

    Robert E. Burke;Karen O'Malley

  • Parkinsonian Mimetics Induce Aspects of Unfolded Protein Response in Death of Dopaminergic Neurons

    William Andrew Holtz;Karen Laurel O'Malley

  • Rabies virus glycoprotein pseudotyping of lentiviral vectors enables retrograde axonal transport and access to the nervous system after peripheral delivery

    Nicholas D. Mazarakis;Mimoun Azzouz;Jonathan B. Rohll;Fiona M. Ellard

  • Long-term behavioral recovery in parkinsonian rats by an HSV vector expressing tyrosine hydroxylase.

    Matthew J. During;Janice R. Naegele;Karen L. O'Malley;Alfred I. Geller

  • The parkinsonism-inducing drug 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium triggers intracellular dopamine oxidation. A novel mechanism of toxicity.

    Julie Lotharius;Karen L. O'Malley

  • Fullerene-based antioxidants and neurodegenerative disorders.

    L.L. Dugan;E.G. Lovett;K.L. Quick;J. Lotharius

  • Two distinct mechanisms are involved in 6-hydroxydopamine- and MPP+- induced dopaminergic neuronal cell death: Role of caspases, ROS, and JNK

    Won Seok Choi;So Young Yoon;Tae H. Oh;Tae H. Oh;Eui Ju Choi

  • Grafting fibroblasts genetically modified to produce L-dopa in a rat model of Parkinson disease.

    J A Wolff;L J Fisher;L Xu;H A Jinnah

  • Alcoholism and alleles of the human D2 dopamine receptor locus. Studies of association and linkage.

    A. Parsian;R. D. Todd;Eric J. Devor;K. L. Omalley

  • The rat dopamine D4 receptor: sequence, gene structure, and demonstration of expression in the cardiovascular system.

    K L O'Malley;S Harmon;L Tang;R D Todd

  • Pharmacological and functional characterization of D2, D3 and D4 dopamine receptors in fibroblast and dopaminergic cell lines.

    Lei Tang;R. D. Todd;A. Heller;K. L. O'malley

  • Photoreceptors of mouse retinas possess D4 receptors coupled to adenylate cyclase.

    Adolph I. Cohen;Richard D. Todd;Steve Harmon;Karen L. O'Malley

  • Enhanced early developmental expression of the metabotropic glutamate receptor mGluR5 in rat brain: protein, mRNA splice variants, and regional distribution.

    Carmelo Romano;Anthony N. Van den Pol;Karen L. O'Malley

  • In vivo expression of therapeutic human genes for dopamine production in the caudates of MPTP-treated monkeys using an AAV vector

    MJ During;RJ Samulski;JD Elsworth;MG Kaplitt

  • Constitutively expressed rat mRNA encoding a 70-kilodalton heat-shock-like protein.

    K. O'Malley;Alex Mauron;J.D. Barchas;L. Kedes

  • Isolation and characterization of the human tyrosine hydroxylase gene: identification of 5' alternative splice sites responsible for multiple mRNAs.

    Karen L. O'Malley;Michael J. Anhalt;Brian M. Martin;John R. Kelsoe

Frequent Co-Authors

Richard D. Todd
Richard D. Todd Washington University in St. Louis
Matthew J. During
Matthew J. During The Ohio State University
Jieun Kim
Jieun Kim Stanford University
Rachael L. Neve
Rachael L. Neve Harvard University
Larry Kedes
Larry Kedes University of Southern California
Jack D. Barchas
Jack D. Barchas Cornell University
Howard J. Federoff
Howard J. Federoff University of California, Irvine
Moses V. Chao
Moses V. Chao New York University
John W. Haycock
John W. Haycock Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans
Edward I. Ginns
Edward I. Ginns University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School

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