Dr. Miller’s research has concerned the properties of neurotransmitters and their receptors in nerve cell function. This has included work on dopamine receptors, opiate receptors and cytokine receptors. Dr. Miller has also worked extensively on understanding the structure and function of calcium channels. The influx of calcium into neurons through these channels is important for many reasons, including the release of neurotransmitters. His laboratory has analyzed the properties of these molecules by examining their electrophysiological properties and has generated calcium channel knockout mice. Other projects in his lab aim to understand the molecular basis of neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease), HIV-1-related dementia and other neuropathological conditions.

Dr. Miller obtained his Ph.D. at Cambridge University. Prior to joining Northwestern, he was Assistant Professor and Professor at the University of Chicago.