News and Announcements
1. BORTOLATO'S LAB RECENTLY GOT A GRANT RENEWAL (RO1 NIH) "DECIPHERING GENE-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONS IN PATHOLOGICAL REACTIVE AGGRESSION."
Pathological aggression is a recurrent pattern of disruptive and violent behavior, with a staggering socioeconomic impact. In the previous funding period, we developed and characterized the first mouse model reproducing gene- environment interactions in pathological aggression. In this renewal application, we propose to use this model to examine the biological mechanisms underlying the development of this condition from early life to adulthood.
2. “EXPLORING THE ROLE OF NEUROACTIVE STEROIDS IN TOURETTE SYNDROME”, NEW GRANT FUNDING (R21 NIH) TO INVESTIGATE THIS NEUROLOGICAL DISORDER.
Tourette syndrome (TS) is a disabling neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by motor and phonic tics. The studies proposed in this application will explore the endocrine mechanisms underlying two of the least well-understood biological characteristics of TS, namely its marked male predominance and stress susceptibility. In particular, our exploratory studies will characterize the steroid profile in TS-affected boys and girls to identify novel potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for this disorder.
3. THE MICHAEL J. FOX FOUNDATION FOR PARKINSON’S RESEARCH FUNDED “PREGNENOLONE FOR THE TREATMENT OF L-DOPA-INDUCED DYSKINESIA IN PARKINSON'S DISEASE” PROJECT.
Pregnenolone is a naturally occurring neurosteroid that has shown therapeutic properties in a number of clinical trials. If results are positive, this study may be rapidly translated into a clinical investigation in Parkinson’s patients.