Dr. Vania F. Prado
Professor
(Cross Appointment with Physiology and Pharmacology
and Robarts Research Institute)
Location: Robarts Research Institute
The Unviersity of Western Ontario
P.O. Box 5015, 100 Perth Drive
London, ON N6A 5K8
Phone: 519-661-2111 Ext. 86827
Fax: 519-850-2562
Email: vprado@robarts.ca
Visit: Dr. Prado's lab
Research Interests:
The focus of my research is the cholinergic system. During aging and age-related dementia such as Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s and Parkinson’s disease, altered release of the cholinergic transmitter acetylcholine seems to underlie some of the cognitive and behavioral deficits observed in patients. Hence we have generated a collection of genetically modified mice to test the role of cholinergic transporters for maintaining the synthesis and storage of acetylcholine in nerve terminals. This research test the possibility that cholinergic transporters can function as drug targets to improve acetylcholine release, an important therapeutic approach in dementia, myasthenia and other disturbances of the cholinergic system. Also, we are developing novel recombinant proteins that are active on ion channels and have potential to be used as therapeutic drugs. These recombinant toxins, originally identified in the venom of a Brazilian spider, have been shown to be effective in controlling pain and cardiac arrhythmia in animal models.
Publications:
For publications, please visit Dr. Prado's Google Scholar page.
