Blaise Costa
- Department of Pharmacology
- Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
Synopsis:
The Costa Lab is interested in identifying NMDA ionotropic glutamate receptor based novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of neurological disorders and stroke. Current projects in the lab use computational structural biology, electrophysiology and behavioral pharmacology techniques.
Description:
Glutamate is a key regulator of central and peripheral nervous system function in the human body. N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor is an important subtype of glutamate receptors that transport ions across the brain cell membrane to perpetuate the biochemical reactions associated with cognitive function. Abnormal activity of NMDA receptors have been implicated in several neurological and psychiatric disorders. Therefore, chemical agents capable of maintaining optimal NMDA receptor function have direct therapeutic applications.
In the recent years, a variety of novel NMDA receptor modulators have been identified, and they exhibit distinct subunit selectivity and mechanism of action. To translate these compounds into clinically useful drug candidates, currently my laboratory is studying them on various in-vitro and in-vivo models of neurological disorders with special focus on Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
Recent understanding of neurovascular biology motivate us to study the efficacy of a mechanoceutics treatment known as cranial osteopathic manipulation (COM) that can be used as an adjunct treatment choice for AD. Therefore, the Costa Lab studies the effect of COM in transgenic rats using cognitive, live imaging and biochemical assays. Outcome of this work will help clinicians to provide COM as an evidence-based, non-invasive treatment strategy for disorders associated with reduced cranial fluid circulation.