J. David Spafford

David Spafford carries out research on voltage-gated cation channels including calcium and sodium channels and NALCN. The channels regulate key functions in our body, including signaling and rhythmic activities in the brain and heart.

Applications of his research include developing new classes of drugs for treating epilepsy, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

• Neurophysiology, specifically voltage-gated cation channels in cellular membranes
• Ion channels and their role in drug development and medicine
• Molecular and cell biology analytical techniques such as fluoresence microscopy, tissue culture and maintenance, PCR
• Clinical Pharmacology
• Drug Discovery, Design and Delivery
• Disease Detection and Modeling
• Biochemistry and Biophysics
• Bionanotechnology and Biosensors
• Physiology, Cell and Developmental Biology
• Molecular Therapeutics and Theranostics
• Bioinformatics, Systematics and Evolution
• Neuroscience

• 1998 Ph.D. Biological Science, University of Alberta, Canada
• 1992 B.Sc. Physiology, Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Canada

• 2000 Long-Term Fellowship, International Human Frontiers Science Program
• 1999 University Research Award, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam
• 1998 Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research
• 1993 Graduate Studentship, Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research
• 1992 Graduate Scholarship, Province of Alberta

• Journal Editorships: PLos One, Editorial Board Member, Frontiers in Psychology, Editorial Board Member

• Canadian Association of Neuroscience
• Canadian Society of Zoologists
• Society for Neuroscience

• Cross-appointed (Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering)
• Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology
• The Water Institute, Member

• BIOL 376 - Cellular Neurophysiology
  • Taught in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023
• BIOL 476 - Systems Neuroscience: From Neurons to Behaviour
  • Taught in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023
• BIOL 678 - Current Topics in Neurophysiology
  • Taught in 2019, 2020

* Only courses taught in the past 5 years are displayed.

• Stephens, R.F., Guan, W., Zhorov, B.S. and Spafford, J.D.(2015) Selectivity filters and cysteine-rich extracellular loops in voltage-gated sodium, calcium, and NALCN channels. Frontiers in Physiology. Membrane Physiology and Membrane Biophysics. http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2015.00153
• Guan, W., Stephens, R.F. and Spafford, J.D. (2014) "Cav3 T-type channels as drug targets for treating epilepsy" Future Neurology. 9(6)563-566. DOI 10.2217/fnl.14.42
• Boone, A.N., Senatore, A., Chemin, J., Monteil, A., Spafford, J.D. (2014) "Gd3+ and calcium sensitive, sodium leak currents are features of weak membrane-glass seals in patch clamp recordings” PLoS ONE 9(6): e98808. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0098808
• Boone, A.N., Senatore, A., Chemin, J., Monteil, A., Spafford, J.D. (2014) "Gd3+ and calcium sensitive, sodium leak currents are features of weak membrane-glass seals in patch clamp recordings” PLoS ONE 9(6): e98808. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0098808
• Senatore, A., Guan, W., Boone, A.N., Spafford, J.D. (2014) "T-type calcium channels become highly sodium-permeable using an alternate extracellular turret region (S5-P) outside the selectivity filter” Journal of Biological Chemistry. 289(17) 11952‐11969. doi: 10.1074/ jbc.M114.551473
• Please see David Spafford's Google Scholar profile for a current list of his peer-reviewed articles: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=N0oC30UAAAAJ&hl=en