Enikö A. Kramár
Biography
Enikö A. Kramár, Ph.D., is a Project Scientist in the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior at the University of California, Irvine. Her research focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying synaptic plasticity and memory formation, with particular emphasis on the role of cytoskeletal proteins, integrin signaling, and hormonal modulation of hippocampal function. Kramár received her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Washington State University in 2001.
Kramár's work has contributed to understanding how synaptic changes are consolidated during long-term potentiation, a cellular model of learning and memory. Her research has examined the rapid effects of estrogen on synaptic transmission and plasticity, demonstrating that estrogen influences learning-related changes through interactions with the actin cytoskeleton. She has also investigated how brain-derived neurotrophic factor and integrin-driven actin polymerization contribute to the stabilization of synaptic modifications. More recently, her work has extended to examining synaptic plasticity in mouse models of neurodegenerative diseases and the effects of radiation exposure on cognitive function.
Kramár has authored over 75 peer-reviewed publications and one book chapter. She has served as an invited speaker at multiple symposia, including the New York Academy of Sciences and the Winter Conference on Brain Research. She is a member of the Society for Neuroscience, the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the International Behavioral Neuroscience Society, and the Society for Behavioral Endocrinology.
Return to topEducation
- B.S. in Biology, Central Washington University, 1990
- M.S. in Biology, Central Washington University, 1992
- Ph.D. in Program in Neuroscience, Washington State University, 2001
Distinctions
- NIH Training Fellowship – Neurobiology of Aging, University of California, Irvine, 2001-2002
- WCBR Travel Fellowship, Winter Conference on Brain Research, 2009
- Harriet Regas Award, Washington State University, 2000
- Special Achievement Award, Central Washington University Alumni Association, 2008
Areas of Expertise
- Synaptic Plasticity Mechanisms
- Integrin Receptor Signaling
- Hippocampal Long-Term Potentiation
- Actin Cytoskeleton Dynamics
- Radiation-Induced Cognitive Impairment
- Epigenetic Memory Consolidation
- FLASH Radiotherapy Neuroprotection
Recent Publications
- Rodriguez AC, Kramár EA, Augustynski AS, Keiser AA, Dong TN, Jones TS, Vakilian SN, Patel ST, Rounds JS, Chinn CA, Kwapis JL, Matheos DP, Wood MA, “HDAC3 serine 424 phospho-mimic and phosphor-null mutants bidirectionally modulate long-term memory formation and synaptic plasticity in the adult and aging mouse brain” (opens in new tab), Journal of Neuroscience, vol. 45, no. 29, pp. e1619242025, 2025.
- Limoli CL, Kramár EA, Almeida A, Petit B, Grilj V, Baulch JE, Ballesteros-Zebadua P, Loo BW Jr, Wood MA, Vozenin MC, “The sparing effect of FLASH-RT on synaptic plasticity is maintained in mice with standard fractionation” (opens in new tab), Radiotherapy and Oncology, vol. 186, pp. 109767, 2023.
- Dong TN, Kramár EA, Beardwood JH, Al-Shammari A, Wood MA, Keiser AA, “Temporal endurance of exercise-induced benefits on hippocampus-dependent memory and synaptic plasticity in female mice” (opens in new tab), Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, vol. 194, pp. 107658, 2022.
- Campbell RR, Kramár EA, Pham L, Beardwood JH, Augustynski AS, López AJ, Chitnis OS, Delima G, Banihani J, Matheos DP, Wood MA, “HDAC3 activity within the nucleus accumbens regulates cocaine-induced plasticity and behavior in a cell-type specific manner” (opens in new tab), Journal of Neuroscience, vol. 41, no. 13, pp. 2814-2878, 2021.
Most Cited Publications
- Kramár, E.A., Chen, L.Y., Brandon, N., Rex, C.R., Gall, C.M., Lynch, G., “Cytoskeletal Changes Underlie Estrogen's Acute Effects on Synaptic Transmission and Plasticity” (opens in new tab), Journal of Neuroscience, vol. 29, no. 41, pp. 12982-93, 2009.
- Kramár. E.A., Lin, B., Rex, C.R., Inkindi, S., Gall, C.M., Lynch, G., “Integrin-driven actin polymerization consolidates long-term potentiation” (opens in new tab), Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, vol. 103, no. 14, pp. 5579-84, 2006.
- Lynch, G., Kramár, E.A., Rex, C.R., Jia, Y., Chappas, D., Gall, C.M., Simmons, D., “Brain derived neurotrophic factor restores synaptic plasticity in a knock-in mouse model of Huntington's Disease” (opens in new tab), Journal of Neuroscience, vol. 27, no. 17, pp. 4424-34, 2007.
- Kramár EA, Babayan AH, Gavin CF, Cox CD, Jafari M, Gall CM, Rumbaugh G, Lynch G., “Synaptic Evidence for the Efficacy of Spaced Learning” (opens in new tab), Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, vol. 109, no. 13, pp. 5121-6, 2012.
- Lin, B., Kramár, E.A., Bi, X., Brucher, F.A., Gall, C.M., Lynch, G., “Theta stimulation polymerizes actin in dendritic spines of hippocampus” (opens in new tab), Journal of Neuroscience, vol. 25, no. 8, pp. 2062-2069, 2005.
- Kramár, E.A., Lin, B., Lin, C., Gall, C., Lynch, G., “A novel mechanism for the facilitation of theta-induced LTP by brain derived neurotrophic factor” (opens in new tab), Journal of Neuroscience, vol. 24, no. 22, pp. 5151-5161, 2004.
- Rex, C.R, Kramár, E.A., Colgin, L.L., Gall, C.M., Lynch, G., “Long term potentiation is impaired in middle-aged rats: regional specificity and reversal by adenosine receptor antagonists” (opens in new tab), Journal of Neuroscience, vol. 25, no. 25, pp. 5956-66, 2005.
- Kramár E.A., Harding, J.W., Wright, J.W., “Angiotensin II and IV induced changes in cerebral blood flow: Roles of AT₁, AT₂ and AT₄ receptor subtypes” (opens in new tab), Regulatory Peptides, vol. 68, pp. 131-138, 1997.
- Chen Y, Kramár EA, Chen LY, Babayan AH, Andres A, Gall CM, Lynch G, Baram TZ., “Impairment of synaptic plasticity by the stress mediator CRH involves selective destruction of think dendritic spines via RhoA signaling” (opens in new tab), Molecular Psychiatry, vol. 18, pp. 485-496, 2013.
- Baudry M, Kramár EA, Xu X, Zadran H, Lynch G, Gall CM, Bi X., “Ampakines rescue spine actin polymerization, long-term potentiation, and learning in a mouse model of Angelman Syndrome” (opens in new tab), Neurobiology of Disease, vol. 47, no. 2, pp. 210-5, 2012.
Contact Information
Email: ekramar@exchange.uci.edu
Phone: (949) 824-2356
Address: 200 Qureshey Research Lab
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Last updated on 4/23/2026.