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Patricia
Sonsalla, PhD |
| Title: Associate Professor |
| Affiliation: UMDNJ-Robert
Wood Johnson Medical School |
| Department:
Neurology |
| Research Interests:
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The Sonsalla laboratory is interested in neurodegeneration, especially of the nigrostriatal dopamine-containing neurons that degenerate in Parkinson’s disease, a disorder that afflicts primarily the aging population. While the etiology of this disorder remains essentially unknown, epidemiological studies link environmental neurotoxicants, such as pesticides, to the disorder. Our present research focuses on the roles of mitochondria, synaptic vesicles, the neurotransmitter transporters, and the neurotransmitters dopamine and glutamate in contributing to neural injury, particularly under conditions of a metabolic stress. A particular focus is on environmental neurotoxicants such as pesticides which interfere with mitochondrial function because of the finding of defective mitochondria in a large percentage of parkinsonian patients. Notably, treatment for Parkinson’s disease is only symptomatic. Despite innumerable clinical and preclinical studies of neuroprotective strategies for the disorder, there is still no effective treatment available for preventing or slowing the progression of the disease. The goal of our research is to gain an understanding of the various processes involved with progressive neurodegeneration and to develop pharmacological strategies to prevent or slow the death of the dopamine neurons.
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