Eric Newman, PhD

Eric A. Newman, a Distinguished McKnight University Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Minnesota, is a leader in the field of glial cell biology. He received his Bachelors, Masters, and PhD degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, did postdoctoral work at the Schepens Eye Research Institute, and was appointed to the faculty at the University of Minnesota in 1990. Dr. Newman’s research focuses on aspects of glial cell function, including glial cell modulation of neuronal excitability, calcium signaling in glial cells, and glial cell regulation of blood flow. Dr. Newman has characterized signaling pathways mediating neurovascular coupling and the regulation of blood flow. He has studied changes in glial function and neurovascular coupling associated with diabetic retinopathy and retinal ischemia. His findings have broad implications for brain function, suggesting that glial cells play an essential role in many key brain processes.