Chris Ford, PhD, is a neuroscientist studying how neuromodulators are encoded by postsynaptic receptors in the mesolimbic and nigrostriatal systems. His research focuses on the cellular and synaptic regulation by which neuromodulators such as dopamine, serotonin, and acetylcholine signal and the dysfunctions that arise in neurological and psychiatric disorders. His lab uses the combination of electrophysiology, imaging, optogenetic, and behavioral approaches. Dr. Ford is known for his work examining the synaptic mechanisms that regulate transmission through metabotropic receptors in basal ganglia circuits and has made contributions in the context of Parkinson’s disease by identifying synaptic deficits that arise following dopamine neuron degeneration, which contribute to motor impairments.