Matthew Zahner
Matthew Zahner
Associate Professor
Department of Biomedical Health Sciences
423-439-4490 / zahner@etsu.edu
Lamb Hall 219
Lamb Hall 219
Visit the Zahner Lab Website: https://zahner836.wixsite.com/zahner-lab
EDUCATION
Post-doctoral Fellowship, (Neurophysiology)
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Ph.D. Integrative Biosciences (Neuroscience)
Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA
M.S. Human Sciences (Nutritional Sciences)
Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
American Dietetic Association Dietetic Internship
B.S. Agriculture and Natural Resources (Nutritional Sciences)
The University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2017-present
East Tennessee State University
Assistant Professor
College of Public Health
Health Sciences Department
2012-2016
Pfizer Drug Safety Research & Development
Principal Scientist
Groton, CT
RESEARCH FOCUS
Research in the Zahner Neurophysiology Laboratory focuses on neural regulation of blood pressure, energy balance and metabolic activity in healthy and diseased states. More specifically, we are focused on characterizing the autonomic activity of cells within the brain, the neurotransmitters, and the neural networks that differentially control reflex responses that people typically take for granted when they are working properly. Another part of our research focuses on disorders that are directly affected by obesity and disorders of the nervous system such as cardiac pain, sleep apnea, and hypertension.
To do this research our lab uses cutting-edge electrophysiological approaches, histological assessments, and microinjection of viruses that can manipulate the genetics and activity of specific types of neurons. In addition to these laboratory approaches we also use radio-telemetry technology and computational approaches to non-invasively record cardiovascular and metabolic activity. Projects are also being designed to determine the beneficial effects of neurostimulation to improve metabolic and cardiovascular activity.
FUNDING
2025-2027
NIH NINDS R03NS140993; Chemogenetic stimulation of sympathetic preganglionic neurons
and serotonergic reorganization after spinal cord injury ($151,542).
2024-2025
ETSU RFP Validation of Viral Infection of Designer Receptors to improve the recovery
of blood pressure regulation ($15,000)
2019 - 2023
NIH NHLBI 1R15HL147286-01; Identification of Central Neural Pathways Responsible for
FGF21-induced Changes in Sympathetic Metabolic and Cardiovascular Activity. ($437,225).
2019 - 2023
NIH NHLBI R15HL145645-01 Characterizing the role of the Dorsomedial Hypothalamic Nucleus
and Raphe Pallidus in the Cardiogenic Sympathetic Reflex. ($436,800)
2018 - 2019
ETSU RDC MAJOR Grants Program Obesity-induced Hypertension; Hormones of Obesity that
Activate Metabolic and Cardiovascular Centers within the Brain ($10,000)
COURSES TAUGHT
- Human Physiology
- General Biology
- Immunology
- Laboratory on Neural Regulation of the Circulation
- Mechanisms of Energy Balance
- Human Neuroanatomy Lab
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE & MEMBERSHIP
- American Physiological Society
- American Heart Association
- Society for Neuroscience
American Physiology Society Committee Positions
- Chair of the Physiologists in Industry Committee (2017 – Present)
- Joint Program Committee
- Chair of the Cardiovascular Section Development Committee (2014 – 2017)
- Cardiovascular Section Steering Committee
- Cardiovascular Section Programming Committee
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
From Pub Med | From Google Scholar
Cardiogenic Sympathetic Reflex
Zahner MR, Hillard KJ, Chandley MC. The role of the dorsomedial hypothalamus in the cardiogenic sympathetic reflex in the Sprague Dawley rat. Front Physiol. 2024 Dec 24;15:1479892.
Zahner MR, Oculam CC, Beaumont E. Activation of nociception-sensitive ionotropic glutamate receptor-expressing rostroventrolateral medulla neurons by stimulation of cardiac afferents in rats. FASEB Bioadv. 2024 Aug 19;6(9):377-389.
Zahner MR, Brown MC, Chandley MJ. Inactivation of the paraventricular nucleus attenuates the cardiogenic sympathetic
afferent reflex in the spontaneously hypertensive rat. J Hypertens. 2024 Jan 1;42(1):70-78.
Zahner MR, Li DP, Chen SR, Pan HL. Cardiac vanilloid receptor 1-expressing afferent nerves and their role in the cardiogenic
sympathetic reflex in rats.J Physiol. 2003 Sep 1;551(Pt 2):515-23.
Zahner MR and Pan HL.Role of paraventricular nucleus in the cardiogenic sympathetic reflex in rats.Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2005 Feb;288(2):R420-6.
Spinal Cord Injury
Zahner MR, Beaumont E. Intermittent Fasting After Spinal Cord Injury Does Not Improve the Recovery of Baroreflex
Regulation in the Rat. Front Physiol. 2020 Jul 22;11:865.
Zahner, M.R. and Schramm, L.P. Spinal regions involved in baroreflex control of renal sympathetic nerve activity
in the rat. Am. J. Physiology., Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol. R910–R916, 2011.
Zahner, M.R. Kulikowicz, E, Schramm, L.P. Recovery of baroreflex control of renal sympathetic nerve activity after spinal lesions in the rat. Am. J. Physiol., Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 301: R1584–1590, 2011.
Castillo DG, Zahner MR, Schramm LP. Identification of the spinal pathways involved in the recovery of baroreflex control after spinal lesions in the rat using pseudorabies virus. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 303: R590–R598, 2012.
Book Chapters
Bello N.T., & Zahner M.R. (2017) Central nervous system stimulants and drugs that suppress appetite In Side Effects of Drugs Annual Volume 39 Oxford, UK: Elsevier
Zahner M.R., & Bello N.T. (2016) Central nervous system stimulants and drugs that suppress appetite In Side Effects of Drugs Annual Volume 38 Oxford, UK: Elsevier