Members

Working Group Description

Members of the Neuropharmacology, Neurodegeneration & Neurotoxicology working group are focused on drug discovery relevant to various neurological diseases and syndromes. Various innovative research approaches are used to explore disease pathogenesis and develop novel therapies, including the use of cell-free systems, cellular and animal models of disease, computer-based models, and genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic technologies. Most faculty in this group are members of the Bindley Biosciences Center of Discovery Park, which facilitates and supports interdisciplinary research projects. Members of the Neuropharmacology, Neurodegeneration & Neurotoxicology working group conduct research in the following areas:

1. Structure-function relationships of transporters involved in presynaptic uptake of neurotransmitters and neuromodulatory agents (e.g. serotonin, endocannabinoids)
2. Neuropharmacology of G-protein-coupled receptors involved in schizophrenia, depression, Tourette's syndrome, Parkinson's disease, and addiction
3. Role of protein oxidation and aggregation in aging and neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, ALS)
4. Mechanisms of cell death induced by environmental neurotoxins such as metal ions and cyanide
5. Identification of new therapies for the treatment of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders