Pharmacology of the Nervous System

Our research focuses on understanding the complex network of pathways involved in acute and chronic neurodegenerative diseases, with particular attention to disruptions in redox homeostasis. We investigate how this imbalance contributes to five key risk factors: aging, inflammation, oxidative stress, glycation, and vascular injury. Receptors of the central nervous system and their pharmacological and biochemical relationship with novel drugs Neuroprotection provided by natural as well as newly synthetized compounds and characterization of the involved intracellular signalling pathways.

Key areas of study include:

• Exploring neuroprotective strategies using both natural and newly synthesized compounds, with a focus on the intracellular signaling pathways involved.
• Developing novel inhibitors of ATP-dependent efflux transporters at the blood-brain barrier to enhance drug delivery.
• Investigating central nervous system receptors and their pharmacological and biochemical interactions with new drugs.
• Characterizing mitochondrial protective agents (such as metabolic modulators of aldehyde dehydrogenase) and anti-apoptotic strategies to prevent endothelial damage caused by Amyloid-beta or reactive oxygen species (ROS).
• Exploring regulation of cytochrome P450 in neurons as  Implications for the onset of Neurodegenerative Diseases
• Profiling vasoactive factors involved in neurovascular disorders to better understand their role in disease progression and treatment.