Alternative Methods in Neurotoxicology

Dr. Rocha serves as full professor of toxicological biochemistry at the Departament of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in the Center of Natural and Exact Sciences, FederaL University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. He researches areas include the use of alternative invertebrate models in neurotoxicology and the interaction of mercury forms with the selenol group of selenoproteins and low-molecular mass selenium-containing molecules One important subtopic focused in the interaction of methylmercury and Hg2+ with thiol- and selenol-containing molecules both in silico and in vitro. The main aims of in vitro studies are to determine how mercury disrupt the thiol- and selenol-containing proteins in the nervous system of invertebrates. The in silico studies aims are to develop chemical and biochemical models to predict how electrophilic mercury forms can disrupt the function of thiol- and selenol-containing proteins. Specially, on how the interaction of Hg forms can impair the cell redox environment by inactivating or sequestering the trace element selenium. He has authored (co-authored) >500 peer reviewed manuscripts and 20 book chapter and is associated editor of Neurotoxicology and the Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition.

Dr. Aschner serves as the Harold and Muriel Block Chair in Molecular Pharmacology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He served on numerous toxicology panels (Institute of Medicine, US Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Disease Control), and is a member of the Neurotoxicology and Alcohol study section (NIH). Research in our lab focuses on the following topics: (1) Modulation of C. elegans genes (aat, skn-1, daf-16) that are homologous to mammalian regulators of MeHg uptake and cellular resistance will modify dopaminergic neurodegeneration in response to MeHg exposure. (2) Under conditions of MeHg-induced oxidative stress, Nrf2 (a master regulator of antioxidant responses) coordinates the upregulation of cytoprotective genes that combat MeHg-induced oxidative injury, and that genetic and biochemical changes that negatively impact upon Nrf2 function increase MeHg’s neurotoxicity. (3) PARK2, a strong PD genetic risk factor, alters neuronal vulnerability to modifiers of cellular Mn status, particularly at the level of mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. Our studies are designed to (1) shed novel mechanistic insight into metal-induced neurodegeneration; (2) identify targets for genetic or pharmacologic modulation of neurodegenerative disorders; (3) increase knowledge of the pathway involved in oxidative stress; (4) develop improved research models for human disease using knowledge of environmental sciences.

Dr. Lucio G. Costa is Professor of Toxicology at the University of Washington in Seattle, and of Pharmacology/Toxicology at the University of Parma Medical School. He received a doctorate in Pharmacology from the University of Milano in 1977, and was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Texas at Houston. He is a member of several national and international professional organizations, a Fellow of the Academy of Toxicological Sciences, and a European Certified Toxicologist. He received various award for his scientific accomplishments, including the Achievement Award from the Society of Toxicology. He serves in various editorial capacities for several toxicology journals, and is an active manuscript and grant reviewer. Dr. Costa has been the member of dozens of panels and committees at the national and international level dealing with toxicology and risk assessment issues. He has chaired and/or organized symposia at scientific meetings in the United States and internationally. He has been teaching classes in the area of toxicology, neurotoxicology and pharmacology to graduate and medical students for 30 years. He keeps an active research program in the area of neurotoxicology.