Candice Askwith, PhD

What do you research, and what brought you to that area of study?
My research explores how cells in the brain sense and respond to their environment, focusing on two distinct but interconnected areas: the role of ion channels in neuronal injury, and the influence of cilia on brain health and disease. My interest in these topics stems from a long-standing passion to understand extracellular signaling in the brain.  
 
What impact do you hope your research will have?
The goal of my research is to discover new strategies to prevent and treat brain injuryby uncovering novel molecular mechanisms that govern cellular signaling in the nervous system. There is still so much left to discover about how the brainfunctions. By increasing our understanding, I hope to identify new therapeutic targets to treat neurologic and psychiatric conditions.
    
What excites you about doing interdisciplinary research at OSU? 
Being a part of the OSU neuroscience community has allowed me to pursue my passion for interdisciplinary collaboration. As an electrophysiologist, I have been honored to help advance the research projects of many investigators at OSU. By leveraging our individual strengths, we can accomplish incredible work and make a real impact in our scientific fields and society. I also love the variety of working with others. I believe research should be fun and working with a team makes the process even more rewarding, allowing us to combine our strengths and unique perspectives to achieve more together.

What are you most proud of?
In addition to the scientific discoveries I’ve made (one of which even became an entry in a textbook), I am most proud of the role I have played in the lives and careers of trainees. Introducing individuals to research and helping the next generation of scientists reach their career goals and become leaders in the field is extremely gratifying. Developing and refining “Discovery PREP at OSU” and the “Explorations in Neuroscience Research High School Summer Internship” allowed me to engage with so many trainees. I am very proud of my contribution to their journeys and the legacy of great scientists who have worked at OSU.