Translational Neuropharmacology
Parkinson´s disease and Depression are common disorders with largely unknown etiologies. There is a need for disease-modifying therapies in these disease states. The Section of Translational Neuropharmacology studies these disease states at a molecular and cellular level both in preclinical models and in specimens from patients. The goal is to identify novel targets for improved diagnostics and pharmacological receptor-based treatments. It is important for receptors to be properly located in nerve cell to properly activate relevant intracellular signaling cascades. The laboratory studies the dynamics of the localization and functionality of receptors. A working hypothesis is that altered levels of receptors in a certain compartment of a nerve cell can underlie pathology. In that respect experiments are focused on identifying and study adaptor proteins and lipids which bind to receptors and regulate their localization and function. Biochemical, histological, pharmacological, molecular biological and behavioral techniques are being used in the laboratory.