 |
Home | Faculty | Resources | For Patients | Contact Us |
Department Faculty |
Ruth G. Perez, PhD |
Assistant Professor of Neurology and Pharmacology Specialized Areas of Interest Parkinson’s disease; Alzheimer’s disease; neurodegenerative diseases; developmental biology; pharmacology; stroke. Biography Ruth G. Perez, PhD, is a neurobiologist trained in developmental biology and neurodegeneration. After completing her PhD at the University of Pittsburgh in 1993 she trained at the Centers for Neurodegenerative Diseases in the laboratory of Dr. Edward Koo in neurology at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA, Harvard Medical School. Moving from her postdoctoral training into a faculty position at the Allegheny University of the Health Sciences/MCP Hahnemann University, Dr. Perez moved to the University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurology in 1999 where she became a founding member of the Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases. Dr. Perez obtained a tenure track appointment in neurology in 2005 with a secondary appointment in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Dr. Perez' research is funded by the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, the Pittsburgh Parkinson’s Chapter, and the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center of the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Perez' laboratory studies the normal function of key proteins implicated in Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and related disorders. Specifically, her lab seeks to discover how the various proteins associated with these neurodegenerative diseases contribute to both normal neuronal viability as well as to neurodegeneration. Much of the recent data from the Perez laboratory focuses on the role for alpha-synuclein and 14-3-3 proteins as regulators of the synthesis of the neurotransmitter, dopamine. Additional studies identified a major role for alpha-synuclein in the regulation of the phosphatase, PP2A. These analyses are being performed using molecular, cellular, and animal models in hopes of identifying potential drug targets to slow the progression of or prevent the onset of neurodegenerative diseases. Dr. Perez' publications can be reviewed through the National Library of Medicine's publication database. Professional Organization Membership Society for Neuroscience Neurotoxicology Society Editorial Service • Ad Hoc Reviewer: Journal of Biological Chemistry |
Dr. Perez |
|
© 2009 Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh. This web site is intended for educational purposes only. The information provided through this web site should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. Please see your physician before taking any medical action. Do not duplicate in any form. All rights reserved. Please read full legal disclaimer and privacy policy. Please direct all web-specific inquiries to NeurologyInfo@upmc.edu. |