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Michael J. Decker PhD, RN, RRT, D.ABSM

Associate Professor
Byrdine F. Lewis Chair in Nursing
Associate Member, Neuroscience Institute
Member, Center for Behavioral Neuroscience

Office: 933 Urban Life
Phone: 404-413-1192
Fax: 404-413-1205
Email: mdecker@gsu.edu

Education
Ph.D. Anatomy/Neuroscience
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (1999)

Dissertation
Wakefulness and Sleep: Intrinsic modulators of the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus. Advisor: Kingman P. Strohl MD. Committee members, Musa Haxhiu MD,PhD, Joseph Lamanna PhD, Joseph Miller PhD, Susan Redline MD, David Rye MD, PhD,

BS Nursing
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (1994)

Clinical Expertise
Sleep Medicine (American Board of Sleep Medicine Board Certification in 2006)
Pulmonary Medicine
Neurology

Bio and Research Interests
Dr. Decker received his PhD in Anatomy and Neuroscience from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. He is board certified by the American Board of Sleep Medicine and is also a Registered Nurse and a Registered Respiratory Therapist. Dr. Decker's basic science research focuses upon sleep-related disorders, their etiology and subsequent neurochemical, cognitive, and behavioral sequella. His laboratory, funded by the National Institutes of Health, has defined that certain disorders of minimal brain dysfunction, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be the outcome of adverse, but subclinical, events occurring during a critical period of brain development (for example, apnea of prematurity & pediatric sleep apnea). To explore that hypothesis, ongoing experimental investigations employ in-vivo characterization of electroencephalographic and neurochemical activity within a variety of models emulating sleep apnea and other sleep related disorders. Corollary gene expression studies provide insight into molecular mechanisms leading to neurochemical dysfunction
while neuroanatomical studies focus upon structure-function relationships. His ongoing clinical research focuses upon characterizing the incidence and prevalence of sleep-related disorders within the population, and to understand the association between those disorders with chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and stroke. Complimentary and translational studies include preclinical evaluation of pharmaceutical compounds, Phase I-IV clinical research trials, and development and testing of new biotechnologies.

Dr. Decker has also participated in research projects funded by the National Science Foundation and National Geographic to define those genetically conferred mechanisms that enable people to adapt to life within the high altitude, low oxygen environments of the Andean, Himalayan and Simien mountains. Prior to joining the Byrdine F. Lewis School of Nursing, Dr. Decker was an Assistant Professor of Neurology at Emory University (2000-2007) and a Visiting Scientist at the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (2003-2010). He has published over 40 peer-reviewed papers, six book chapters, multiple clinical guidelines, and is routinely invited to present his research throughout the United States and abroad.

Representative clinical publications

  • Decker M.J, Linn J.M, Tabassum H., Reeves WC . Hypersomnolence and Sleep Related Complaints in Metropolitan, Urban, and Rural Georgia. (Published ahead of print and accompanied by CDC press release). American Journal of Epidemiology 2009;169(4):435-443
  • Decker. M.J, Tabassum H., Linn, J.M,., Reeves, WC. Electroencephalographic Correlates of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Behavior and Brain Function, 5:43, 2009
  • Beall C.M, Decker M.J. Brittenham G.M., Kushner I., Gebremedhin A., Strohl K.P. An Ethiopian pattern of human adaptation to high-altitude hypoxia. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. Dec 24;99(26):17215-8, 2002
  • Beall C.M., Brittenham G.M., Strohl K.P., Blangero J., Williams-Blangero S., Goldstein M.C., Decker M.J., Vargas E., Villena M., Soria R., Alarcon A.M., Gonzales C. Hemoglobin concentration of high- altitude Tibetans and Bolivian Aymara. Am J Phys Anthro 106:385-400, 1998.
  • Beall C.M., Strohl K.P., Blangero J., Williams-Blangero S., Decker M.J., Brittenham G.M., Goldstein M. Quantitative genetic analysis of arterial oxygen saturation in Tibetan Highlanders. Human Biology 69(5):597-604, 1997.
  • Decker M.J., Haaga J., Arnold J., Atzberger D., Strohl K.P. Functional electrical stimulation and respiration during sleep. J. Appl. Physiol 75(3): 1053-1061, 1993

Representative basic science publications

  • Baekey D., Feng P.F., Decker M.J., Strohl K.P. Genetic and Environmental Influences on Breathing and Sleep. In "Sleep Disordered Breathing: Translational Medicine: what animal models have taught us about a human disease. ILAR J. 2009;50(3):248-61
  • Boss V., Sola A. Wen T.C., Decker M.J. Mild Intermittent Hypoxia Does Not Induce Stress Responses in the Neonatal Rat Brain. Biol Neonate 88:313-320, 2005
  • Decker M.J., Jones K.A., Solomon I.G., Keating G.L., Rye D.B. Reduced Extracellular Dopamine and Increased Responsiveness to Novelty: Neurochemical and Behavioral Sequelae of Intermittent Hypoxia. SLEEP 28(2);169-176, 2006. Accompanying Editorial SLEEP 28;2 165-167.
  • Decker M.J., Hue G.E., Caudle W.M., Miller G.W., Keating G.L., Rye D.B. Episodic neonatal hypoxia evokes executive dysfunction and regionally specific alterations in markers of dopamine signaling. Neurosci, 117:417-4252, 2003.
  • Decker M.J., Rye D.B. Emerging Research: Neonatal intermittent hypoxia impairs dopamine signaling and executive functioning. Sleep Breath. Dec;6(4):205-10, 2002
  • Berkeley JL, Decker M.J, and Levey AI. The Role of Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor-Mediated Activation of Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase 1/2 in Pilocarpine-Induced Seizures. J Neurochem, 82; 192-201, 2002.

Completed research grants (past 5 years)

  • NIH-NINDS
    Andrew Escayg (PI) & Michael Decker
    12/1/04-11/30/09
    Sodium channel dysfunction and epilepsy 1R01NS046484
  • NIH- NINDS
    Andrew Escayg (PI) & Michael Decker
    04/01/05-03/30/09
    Sodium channel regulation and disease
    R01NS051834
  • Organon Organon
    Michael Decker PI
    06/01/07-05/15/2008
    A six-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel group, efficacy and safety, sleep lab trial with Org 50081 in patients with
    chronic primary insomnia
  • NIH–NHLBI
    Michael Decker PI
    07/01/02-07/30/07 Episodic Neonatal Hypoxia Impairs Sleep and Cognition
    R01HL72722
  • Eli-Lilly
    Michael Decker PI
    10/25/05 -0 6/30/06 H9U-MC-MDBD Oversight of Multi-Center acquisition of
    Polysomnographic Data
  • NIH-NINDS
    David B. Rye (PI) & Michael Decker
    04/01/02 - 03/31/06
    Functional Circuitry of Midbrain Dopamine in Sleep and Wake
    R01NS043374
  • CDC
    Michael Decker (PI) & David Rye
    11/01/02-10/31/05
    Polysomnographic Correlates of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome:
    A population-based study
  • Emory
    Center for Alternative Medicine: Mahlon DeLong (PI)
    Michael Decker (Pilot)
    4/13/04-4/13/05
    Dietary supplementation with fatty acids protects the mesotelencephalic dopamine system against hypoxia-induced impairment and degeneration.
  • NIH – CAM
    Donald Bliwise (PI) & Michael Decker
    4/13/04-4/13/05
    Polysomnographic Assessment of Alternative Treatment for Sleep Disturbance in PD.
    R01AT000611
  • Emory
    Collaborative Center for Parkinson's Disease
    Research Pilot project: Michael Decker
    11/30/02-10/31/04
    Genetic and developmental influences of environmental toxin induced neurodegeneration.
  • NIH-NINDS
    David B. Rye (PI) & Michael Decker
    10/01/99 - 09/30/04
    Sleep/Dopamine Phenotypes in Genetically Distinct Mice
    R01NS040221

Presentations at International Conferences (past 5 years)

  • 2009 Guest Speaker Translating Preclinical Research to the Public Health Agenda: Sleep Complaints as Biomarkers of CNS dysfunction. Battelle Eastern Science & Technology Center Aberdeen, MD
  • 2009 Guest Speaker Prevalent Sleepiness: A Population-based study. NHLBI, NIH, Bethesda, MD
  • 2007 Guest Speaker The utility of electroencephalography in safety pharmacology. Am College Clinical Toxicology, NC, USA
  • 2006 Guest Speaker The role of electroencephalography in safety pharmacology, Am College Safety Pharmacology, San Diego, USA
  • 2005 Guest Speaker Sleep apnea associated cognitive decline, Curitiba, Brazil
  • 2005 Guest Speaker Sexual dysfunction in sleep apnea, Curitiba, Brazil
  • 2005 Guest Speaker Methods for diagnosing excessive daytime sleepiness, Sao Paulo, Brazil
  • 2005 Guest Speaker Neurochemical outcomes of sleep apnea, Tokyo, Japan
  • 2005 Guest Speaker Electroencephalography in safety pharmacology, Tokyo, Japan
  • 2005 Guest Speaker Preventing sudden infant deaths, Atlanta, Georgia
  • 2005 Co-Chair Convention of Sleep and Disorders of Sleep, Mumbai, India
  • 2005 Guest Speaker Long Term Neurochemical and Behavioral Outcomes of Intermittent Hypoxic Insults During Early Brain Development. Institute de Sono, Sao Paolo, Brazil

Presentations at National, State and Local Conferences (past 5 years)

  • 2009 Grand Rounds Translating public health research into improved patient outcomes: Improving recognition & intervention of sleep disorders. Good Samaritan Hosp, PA.
  • 2008 Panel Sleep pathology contributing to hypersomnolence in Georgia. Future of Clinical
    Sleep Medicine, Boston, Ma
  • 2008 Guest Speaker Hypersomnolence and Sleep Related Complaints in Metropolitan, Urban, and Rural
    Georgia. Lake Arrowhead NIH sponsored Sleep Workshop, UCLA, CA
  • 2008 Guest Speaker Persistent fatigue in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A manifestation of cortical
    hypoarousal? Lake Arrowhead NIH sponsored Sleep Workshop, UCLA, CA
  • 2008 Guest Speaker Electroencephalography in safety pharmacology. Charles Rivers “MASS PHYSIO” Boston, MASS
  • 2008 Guest Speaker Owning & operating a sleep disorders center. American Academy of Sleep
    Medicine management series. Florida
  • 2008 Guest Speaker Performing clinical research is a sleep disorders center. American Academy of Sleep Medicine management series. Florida
  • 2007 Guest Speaker Apnea induced executive dysfunction: Is dopamine the culprit or unwitting scapegoat? University of Illinois, Chicago
  • 2006 Guest Speaker Applications of Chaos Theory in heart rate and respiratory algorithms
    Cleveland Clinic, Ohio
  • 2006 Guest Speaker Pathophysiology & interventions of obstructive & central sleep apnea
    Georgia Dental Sleep Society, GA. USA
  • 2006 Guest Speaker The biological basis of ADHD, Amelia Island, Fla, USA
  • 2004 Guest Speaker Neonatal intermittent hypoxia impairs dopamine signaling and executive functioning” Stanford Research Institute, San Francisco, CA

Press releases

Professional Service Activities (past 5 years)

  • 2010 - current Associate Editor: Frontiers in Neuroscience
  • 2009 - current National Science Foundation, Primary reviewer - neuroscience grant applications
  • 2007- present Editorial Board: Sleep Diagnosis and Therapy
  • 2005 National Institute of Health, ad-hoc reviewer GCRC site visit
  • 2007-present Editorial Board: Sleep Diagnosis and Therapy
  • 2000 – current Manuscript Reviewer, Sleep
  • 2000- present Manuscript Reviewer, Brain Research
  • 2000- present Manuscript Reviewer, Neuroscience

Awards and Honors

  • 1999 American Professional Sleep Societies: Research Excellence Award
  • 1999 Stearns Foundation Award: Excellence in Anatomy
  • 1994 National Science Foundation: Undergraduate Research Stipend
    Genetic epidemiology studies at high altitude (Ethiopia)
  • 1993 National Science Foundation: Undergraduate Research Stipend
    Genetic epidemiology studies at high altitude (Bolivia)
  • 1991 National Geographic: Undergraduate Research Stipend
    Genetic epidemiology studies at high altitude (Tibet)
  • 1991-93 Bolton Scholarship: Case Western Reserve University