Dr. David Zada
Research
We investigate the neural and genetic mechanisms underlying social behaviors across the lifespan. Using the tiny, transparent Danionella cerebrum as a model system, we explore how brain circuits develop, adapt, and function in social contexts. Our research integrates functional imaging, molecular profiling, and behavioral assays to uncover how genetic and environmental factors shape social interactions. By combining developmental, neurogenetic, and systems neuroscience approaches, we aim to advance our understanding of the 'social brain' that leads to collective behaviors and their disruptions in neurodevelopmental disorders.
Publications
Publications
1. Vatine GD, Zada D, Lerer-Goldshtein T, Tovin A, Malkinson G, Yaniv K and Appelbaum L (2013) Zebrafish as a model for monocarboxyl transporter 8-deficiency. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 288:169-180.
2. Zada D*, Tovin A*, Lerer-Goldshtein T, Vatine GD, Appelbaum L (2014) Altered Behavioral Performance and Live Imaging of Circuit-Specific Neural Deficiencies in a Zebrafish Model for Psychomotor Retardation. PLoS Genetic. 10(9): e1004615.
3. Elbaz I, Zada D, Tovin A, Braun T, Lerer-Goldshtein T, Wang G, Mourrain P, Appelbaum L. (2016) Sleep-Dependent Structural Synaptic Plasticity of Inhibitory Synapses in the Dendrites of Hypocretin/Orexin Neurons. Molecular Neurobiology. 54(8):6581-6597.
4. Zada D, Tovin A, Lerer-Goldshtein T, Appelbaum L. (2016). Pharmacological and BBB-targeted genetic therapies for thyroid hormone-dependent hypomyelination. Disease Models & Mechanisms. pii: dmm.027227.
5. Zada D, Blitz E, Appelbaum L. (2017). Zebrafish- An emerging model to explore thyroid hormone transporters and psychomotor retardation. Review. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology. pii: S0303-7207(17)30172-7.
6. Zada D, Bronshtein I, Lerer-Goldshtein T, Garini Y, Appelbaum L (2019) Sleep increases chromosome dynamics to enable reduction of accumulating DNA damage in single neurons. Nature Communications. 10:895.
7. Admati I, Wasserman-Bartov T, Tovin A , Rozenblat R , Blitz E, Zada D , Lerer-Goldshtein T , Appelbaum L (2020). Neural Alterations and Hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-Pituitary-Thyroid Axis in Oatp1c1 Deficiency. Thyroid. ;30(1):161-174.
8. Zada D and Appelbaum L (2020). Behavioral criteria and techniques to define sleep in zebrafish. Invited book Chapter: Behavioral and Neural Genetics of Zebrafish. Robert T. Gerlai: CH09. Elsevier. 141-153.
9. Blitz E, Matsuda H, Guenther S, Morikawa T, Kubota Y, Zada D, Lerer-Goldshtein T, Stainier D.Y.R, and Appelbaum L (2021). Thyroid hormones regulate goblet cell differentiation and Fgf19-Fgfr4 signaling. Endocrinology. Volume 162, Issue 5, May 2021, bqab047.
10. Zada D, Sela Y, Matosevich N, Monsonego A, Lerer-Goldshtein T, Nir Y, and Appelbaum L (2021). Parp1 promotes sleep, which enhances DNA repair in neurons. Molecular Cell. Nov 12:S1097-2765(21)00933-3. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2021.10.026.
11. Rozenblat R, Tovin A, Zada D, Lebenthal-Loinger I, Lerer-Goldshtein T and Appelbaum L (2022). Genetic and Neurological Deficiencies in the Visual System of mct8 Mutant Zebrafish. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(5), 2464.
12. Schulze L, Zada D, Lovett-Barron M (2023). A medley of gene expression adds new depth to zebrafish brain maps. Focus article. Science Advances. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg8660
13. Uribe-Arias A, Rozenblat R, Vinepinsky E, Marachlian E, Kulkarni A, Zada D, Privat M, Topsakalian D, Charpy S, Candat V, Nourin S, Appelbaum L, Sumbre G (2023). Radial astrocyte synchronization modulates the visual system during behavioral-state transitions. Neuron. Oct 17:S0896-6273(23)00709-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2023.09.022.
14. Zada D*, Schulze L*, Yu JH, Tarabishi P, Napoli JL, Milan J, Lovett-Barron M (2024). Development of neural circuits for social motion perception in schooling fish. Current Biology. July 17, 2024. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2024.06.049.
Last Updated Date : 03/04/2025
