Presenting Author
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
I have a broad background in neuroscience and pharmacology, with specific training and expertise in behavioral, neurochemical and neurobiological analyses in animal models related to neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, such as depression, anxiety, neuropathic pain and cognitive deficits related to aging and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). My research includes investigation of CNS functional roles of natural polyphenols and selective phosphodiesterases (PDEs) inhibitors (PDE1, 2, 4 and 10) for treatment of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, in the mediation of the above diseases and the involved intracellular mechanisms. Our work includes the development of PDE2 and PDE4 inhibitors as small molecule therapeutic drugs to treat neuroinflammation as contributing factors to major depressive disorder (MDD), alcohol use disorder and AD. Recently, my project focused on investigating the drug targets for the treatment of drug abuse and memory deficits in AD.