Education and Training
University of California at Berkeley, Bachelor of Arts, 1982.
University of California, Los Angeles, M.D., 1986.
Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Internship in Internal Medicine, 1987.
UCLA Department of Neurology, Residency in Neurology, 1987-1990.
UCLA Department of Neurology, Neurology Research Fellowship, 1990 - 1992.
Board Certification
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, 7/92
Headache Medicine Specialty Certification, 12/07
Honors and Awards
Regents Scholarship to U.C. Berkeley, 1978.
Regents Scholarship to UCLA School of Medicine, 1982.
Bachelor of Arts, Magna Cum Lauda, U.C. Berkeley, 1982.
Outstanding Graduate of 1982, Department of Biology, U.C. Berkeley.
Richard P. Walter Award, Neurology Dept., UCLA School of Med., 1986.
American Academy of Neurology Research Fellowship, 1990.
J. Louis Riehl Research Award, Neurology Dept., UCLA, 1990.
Golden Hammer Award for Excellence in Resident Teaching, UCLA Dept. of Neurology, 1998.
American Headache Society Presidential Lecture Award, 2006.
Organization Memberships
American Neurological Association
Society for Neuroscience
American Society for Neurochemistry
American Headache Society
Headache Cooperative of the Pacific – Board of Directors
Teaching/Administrative Experience
Director of Residency Training, UCLA Department of Neurology Residency Program, 1995- 2001.
Chair of Clinical Neurology Clerkship, UCLA School of Medicine, 1994-2000.
Courses Taught Basic Neurology M203, UCLA School of Medicine, 1996-98.
Neurological Pathophysiology , UCLA School of Medicine, 1998-present.
Microanatomy A201, UCLA School of Medicine, 1991-1992.
Molecular Cell Biology M209, UCLA ACCESS Graduate Program, 1995-1996.
Imaging in Neuroscience M272, UCLA Neuroscience IDP, 1997
Techniques in Neurobiology, NS 275 UCLA Neuroscience IDP 1996-1999.
Clinical Neuropharmacology, UCLA Neurology Residency Program 1998-Present.
Laboratory and Clinical Trainees
Postgraduates
Marni Harris, Ph.D. 1995-97.
James Costantin, Ph.D. 1996-2000
Elizabeth Yoder, Ph.D. 1996-1998
Luis Beltran, Ph.D. 2001-2006
Albert Lai, M.D., Ph.D. 2001-2006
Kevin C. Brennan, M.D., 2005-2007
Hector Lopez-Valdez, D.V.M., Ph.D. 2005-Present
Marcelo Romero-Reyes, D.D.S., Ph.D. 2006-Present
Marisa Chang, M.D., 2008-Present
Graduate Students
Ph.D. Thesis Advisor – Charles Stout – 1999-2001.
Suzanne Hanson. 1993-94. Royal College of Pharmacology, Denmark. Completed masters thesis project.
Susheel Kodali 1995-97. UCLA School of Medicine. Completed honors project.
Nichole Bornak, 1997-1999 Ph.D. Candidate, UCLA Department of Psychology.
Joshua Bryant 2002-2004. UCLA School of Medicine. Honors Project
Doctoral Thesis Committees
Alireza Atri, UCLA Department of Biomathematics, 1996.
Shirooz Rabizadeh, UCLA Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, 1998.
Bruce Shapiro, UCLA Department of Biomathematics, 1999.
Alyssa O’Farrell, UCLA Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, 2000.
Nader Pouratioan, UCLA Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, 2000
Michael Guiou, UCLA Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, 2005
Artie Chow, UCLA Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, 2006
Joseph Glykys, UCLA Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, 2006
Committees
Residency Selection Committee, Dept. of Neurology, UCLA School of Medicine, 1993-present.
Graduate Medical Education Committee, UCLA School of Medicine, 1993-2004.
Core Clerkship Committee, UCLA School of Medicine, 1996-2000.
Admissions Committee, UCLA Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, 1995- 1998.
UCLA School of Medicine Master Plan Education Committee, 1996.
American Neurological Association Long Range Planning Committee, 2000-2001.
Clinical Trial Steering Committee – Amplatzer PFO Occluder Migraine Study, 2005-Present
American Neurological Association Membership Committee, 2007-present
Selected Recent Lectures
Plenary Lectures
International Headache Society, Kyoto, 2005
American Headache Society Presidential Lecture, Los Angeles, 2006.
Japanese Headache Society, Yonago 2006.
Japanese Society of Clinical Neurophysiology, Tokyo 2007.
International Headache Society, Stockholm, 2007.
International Headache Research Symposium, Copenhagen, 2007.
National Headache Foundation/NIH Headache Research Symposium, Bethesda, 2008.
American Academy of Neurology, 2009.
Debates
American Headache Society, Scottsdale, 2007.
Internation Headache Society/American Headache Society, 2009.
Grand Rounds
University of California at Davis, 2008.
Louisiana State University, Shreveport, 2008.
Washington University, St. Louis, 2009.
Penn State University, Hershey, 2009.
CME Lectures
American Headache Society, 2008.
UCLA Update on Neurotherapeutics, Los Angeles, 2008.
UCLA Neurology for Non-Neurologists, Los Angeles, 2009.
Consultant, NBC Today Show Organized and appeared on week-long program on headache, 1995.
Associate Editor, Cephalalgia , 2009-Present
Ad hoc reviewer for:
Brain Journal of Cell Biology
Nature Cell Biology Journal of Biological Chemistry
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science Journal of Neuroscience
Glia Journal of Physiology
Journal of Neurophysiology Lancet
Brain Research Neurology
Journal of Neurochemistry Annals of Neurology
Journal of Neuroscience Research Molecular Endocrinology
Molecular Pharmacology Headache
Neurobiology of Disease Cephalalgia
Review Panels
Department of the Army, Cell Biology Study Section, 1996.
NIH Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology Study Section, Ad-Hoc Reviewer, 1999.
NICHD Intramural Endocrinology Site Visit Committee, 1999.
State of Louisiana Research Funding Program, 1999-2001.
NINDS Neurological Sciences and Disorders-B Review Committee, 2000-2005
Ad Hoc Reviewer for Multiple NIH Review Committees, 2005-present
Volunteer Service
Clinical neurologist for Venice Family Clinic, 1991-2000
PEER REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
1. Sanderson, M.J., A.C. Charles and E.R. Dirksen. Mechanical stimulation and intercellular communication increases Ca2+ in epithelial cells. Cell Regulation 1: 585-596, 1990.
2. Mazziotta, J., C. Orfuss, H. Vinters, A. Charles, and R. Collins. A 49-year-old man with aseptic meningitis and multiple cranial neuropathies. Western Journal of Medicine 154: 307-314, 1991.
3. Charles, A.C., J.E. Merrill, E.R. Dirksen and M.J. Sanderson. Intercellular signaling in glial cells: Ca2+ waves and oscillations in response to mechanical stimulation and glutamate. Neuron, 6: 983-992, 1991.
4. Charles, A.C., C.C., Naus, D. Zhu, E.R. Dirksen, and M.J. Sanderson.Intercellular calcium signaling via gap junctions in glioma cells. Journal of Cell Biology 118:195-201, 1992.
5. Martin, F.C., A.C. Charles, M.J. Sanderson, and J.E. Merrill. Substances P stimulates interleukin-1 release by astrocytes via intracellular calcium. Brain Research 599:13-18,1992.
6. Charles, A.C., E.R. Dirksen, J.E. Merrill, and M.J. Sanderson. Mechanisms of intercellular calcium signaling in glial cells studied with dantrolene and thapsigargin. Glia 7: 134-145, 1993.
7. Zhong, L.T., T. Sarafian, D. J. Kane, A.C. Charles, S.P. Mah, R.H. Edwards and D.E. Bredeson. Bcl-2 inhibits death of central neural cells induced by multiple agents. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 90:4533-4537, 1993.
8. Hales, T.G., M.J. Sanderson and A.C. Charles. GABA has excitatory effects on GnRH secreting immortalized hypothalamic neurons. Neuroendocrinology 59:297-308, 1994.
9. Sneyd, J., A.C. Charles and M.J. Sanderson. A model for intercellular calcium waves American Journal of Physiology, 266: C293-302 1994.
10. Sanderson, M.J., A.C. Charles, S. Boitano and E.R. Dirksen. Mechanisms and function of intercellular calcium signalling. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology 98:173-187, 1994.
11. Charles, A.C. Glia-neuron intercellular calcium signaling. Developmental Neuroscience 16:196-206, 1994.
12. Mitrovic, B., F. C. Martin, A.C. Charles, L. Ignarro and J.M. Merrill. Neurotransmitters and cytokines in CNS pathology. Progress in Brain Research 103: 319-30, 1994.
13. Charles, A.C. and T.G. Hales. Mechanisms of spontaneous calcium oscillations and action potentials in immortalized hypothalamic neurons. Journal of Neurophysiology 73:56-64, 1995.
15. Charles, A.C., S. K. Kodali, R.F. Tyndale. Intercellular calcium waves in neurons. Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience 7:337-353, 1996. (Cover Image)
16. Zanotti, S.A. and A.C. Charles. Extracellular calcium sensing by glial cells - low extracellular calcium induces intracellular calcium release and intercellular signaling. Journal of Neurochemistry. 69: 594-602, 1997.
17. Harris-White, M.E., S.A. Zanotti, S.A. Frautschy, , and A.C. Charles. Spiral intercellular calcium waves in hippocampal slice cultures. Journal of Neurophysiology 79:1045-1052, 1998.
18. Bronstein, J.M., T.G. Hales, R.F. Tyndale, and A.C. Charles. An immortalized glial cell line that produces mature myelin proteins and functional GABAA receptors. Journal of Neurochemistry, 70, 483-491, 1998.
19. Charles, A.C. Intercellular calcium waves in glial cells. Glia 24:39-49, 1998. (Cover Image)
20. Charles, A.C., E. Piros, C. Evans, and T.G. Hales. L-Type Ca2+ channels and K+ channels specifically modulate the frequency and amplitude of spontaneous Ca2+ oscillations and have distinct roles in prolactin release in GH3 cells. Journal of Biological Chemistry 274, 7508-7515, 1999.
21. Guthrie, P.B., J. Knappenberger, M. Segal, M.V.L. Bennett, A.C. Charles, and S.B. Kater. ATP released from astrocytes mediates glial calcium waves. Journal of Neuroscience 19, 520-528, 1999.
22. Costantin, J.L. and A.C. Charles. Spontaneous action potentials initiate rhythmic intercellular calcium waves in immortalized hypothalamic (GT1-1) neurons. Journal of Neurophysiology 82, 429-435, 1999.
23. Charles, A.C. Nitric oxide pumps up calcium signaling. Nature Cell Biology E193-195, 1999.
24. Vitalis, E.A., J. L. Costantin, P. S. Tsai, H. Sakakibara, T. Iiri., J. F. Martini, M. Taga, A. L.H. Choi, A.C. Charles, and Richard I. Weiner. Role of the cAMP signaling pathway in the regulation of GnRH secretion in GT1 cells. Proceedings of National Academy of Science 97:4, 1861-1866, 2000.
25. Piros, E., A.C. Charles, L. Song, C. Evans, and T.G. Hales. Cloned d-opioid receptors expressed in GH3 cells inhibit spontaneous Ca2+ oscillations and prolactin release through KIR channel activation. Journal of Neurophysiology, 83, 2691-2698, 2000.
26. Costantin, J.L. and A.C. Charles. Frequency and amplitude modulation of Ca2+ signaling by K+ channels in a hypothalamic cell line. Journal of Neurophysiology 85, 295-304, 2001.
27. Charles, A.C., R.I. Weiner and J.L. Costantin. Cyclic AMP modulates the excitability of GT1 neurons via a cyclic nucleotide gated channel. Molecular Endocrinology 15:11, 997-1009, 2001.
28. Stout, C., J. L. Costantin, C.G. Naus, and A.C. Charles. Intercellular calcium signaling in astrocytes via ATP release through connexin hemichannels. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 277: 10482-10488, 2002.
29. Charles, A.C., K. Asas, N. Mostovskaya, M. Danovitch, and T.G. Hales. Co-expression of delta opioid receptors with mu receptors in GH3 cells changes the functional response to mu agonists from inhibitory to excitatory. Molecular Pharmacology, 63:89-95, 2003.
30. Stout, C.E. and A.C. Charles. Modulation of intercellular signaling in astrocytes by extracellular Ca2+ and Mg2+. Glia 43:265-273, 2003.
31. Beltran, L. and A.C. Charles. Riluzole inhibits the spontaneous activity of neuroendocrine cells by activation of K+ channels. British Journal of Pharmacology, 140: 881-888, 2003.
32. Zhang, Y., J. Bryant, A. Charles, R. Boado, W. and Pardridge. Intravenous RNAi gene therapy targeting the human EGF receptor prolongs survival in intra-cranial brain cancer. Clinical Cancer Research, 10: 3667-3677, 2004.
33. Bryant, J.A., R.S. Finn, D.J. Slamon, T.F. Cloughesy, and A.C. Charles. EGF activates intracellular and intercellular calcium signaling by distinct pathways in tumor cells. Cancer Biol Ther. 3:1243-9., 2004.
34. Charles, A.C. and T.G. Hales. From inhibition to excitation: functional consequences of interaction between opioid receptors. Life Sciences, 76: 479-485, 2004.
35. Charles, A. Reaching out beyond the synapse: glial intercellular waves coordinate metabolism. Science STKE. pe6-8, 2005.
36. Lai, A. , Le, D-N, Paznekas W. E. , Gifford, W.D., Jabs, E.W., Charles, A.C. Occulodentodigital dysplasia connexin43 mutations result in nonfunctional connexin hemichannels and gap junctions in C6 glioma cells. Journal of Cell Science. 119(Pt 3):532-41, 2006 .
37. Ghiani, C.A., Lelievre, V., Beltran-Parrazal., L., Sforza, D., Smith, D., Charles, A., Ferchmin, P., and de Vellis, J.. Gene expression is differentially regulated by neurotransmitters in embryonic cortical culture. Journal of Neurochemistry, 97: 35-43, 2006.
38. Tiwari-Woodruff, S.K., L. Beltran-Parrazal, A.C. Charles, V. Trung, and J.M. Bronstein. K+ channel Kv3.1 associates with OSP/claudin-11 and regulates oligodendrocyte development. American Journal of Physiology, Cell Physiology, 291: 687-698, 2006.
39. Beltran-Parrazal, L., López-Valdés, L., Brennan, K.C., Díaz-Muñoz, M., de Vellis, J., and A.C. Charles Mitochondrial transport in processes of cortical neurons is independent of intracellular calcium. American Journal of Physiology, Cell Physiology 291: 1193-1197, 2006.
40. Ghiani, C.A., Beltran-Parrazal., L., Sforza, D., Malvar, J., Seksenyan, A., Cole, R., Smith, D., Charles, A., Ferchmin, P., and de Vellis, J. Genetic program of neuronal differentiation and growth induced by specific activation of NMDA receptors. Neurochemical Research, 32: 363-76, 2007.
41. Brennan, K.C., Beltran-Parrazal, L, Lopez-Valdes, H.E., Theriot, J., Toga, A.W., and A.C. Charles, Distinct vascular conduction with cortical spreading depression. Journal of Neurophysiology 96:4143-51, 2007.
42. Brennan, K.C., Romero, M., Arnold, A. and A.C. Charles. Reduced threshold for cortical spreading depression in female mice. Annals of Neurology 61: 603-6, 2007.
43. Charles, A.C., Flippen, C., Romero-Reyes, M., Brennan, K.C. Memantine for prevention of migraine: a retrospective study of 60 cases. Journal of Headache and Pain, 8: 248-50, 2007.
44. Charles, A.C. and Brennan, K.C Sumatriptan-naproxen combination for acute migraine. Nature Clinical Practice Neurology, 3(11): 604-5, 2007.
45. Rodriguez, J.A., Helguera, G., Daniels, T., Neacato, I., Lopez-Valdes, H.E., Charles, A.C. and Penichet, M.L. Binding specificity and internalization properties of an antibody-avidin fusion protein targeting the human transferrin receptor. Journal of Controlled Release, 4:124(1-2):35-42, 2007.
46. Brennan, K.C., and Charles, A.C. A touch of increased pain: allodynia in migraine. Annals of Neurology, 63(2):130-2, 2008.
47. Cutrer, F.M. and Charles, A.C. The neurogenic basis of migraine. Headache 48:1411-4, 2008.
48. Karumbayaram, S. Kelly, T., Paucar., A., Roe, A., Umbach, J., Charles, A., Goldman, S., Kornblum, H., Wiedau-Pazos, M. Human embryonic stem cell-derived motor neurons expressing SOD-1 mutants exhibit typical
signs of motor neuron degeneration linked to ALS. Disease Models and Mechanisms, In Press, 2009.
49. Bates, E., Nikai, T., Brennan, K.C., Fu, Y.H., Charles, A., Bassbaum, A., Ptacek, L., and Ahn, A. Sumatriptan alleviates nitroglycerin-induced mechanical and thermal allodynia in mice. Cephalalgia, In Press, 2009.
50. Charles, A. Advances in the basic and clinical science of migraine. Annals of Neurology 65: 491-8, 2009.
51. Charles, A. and Brennan, K.C. Cortical spreading depression: new insights and persistent questions. Headache Currents. In Press, 2009.
Book Chapters
Merrill, J.E., A.C. Charles and F.C. Martin. The role of substance P in cytokine production by glial cells. In: Biology and Pathology of Astrocyte-Neuron Interaction. 1993.
Charles, A.C. and C. Giaume. Glial calcium waves – underlying mechanisms and functional significance. In: Glia in Synaptic Transmission. P. Haydon and A. Volterra, Eds. 2002.
Charles, A.C. and K.C. Brennan. Calcium homeostasis in glia. In New Encylopedia of Neuroscience. Oxford/Academic Press, 559-565, 2009.
Charles, A.C. and Brennan, K.C. Mechanisms of cortical spreading depression as targets for migraine therapy. Frontiers in Headache Research: Innovative Drug Delopment for Headache Disorders, Oxford University Press 2009.
Charles, A.C. and K.C. Brennan. The neurobiology of migraine. In Handbook of Neurology. In Press, 2009.
Brennan, K.C. and Charles, A.C. Headache and sleep. In Seminars in Neurology. In Press, 2009.
Patient Publications
Charles, A.C. Decreasing brain excitability with migraine therapy: targeting glutamate. In ACHE American Committee for Headache Education) newsletter, December 2008.