Altaf Darvesh, M.Pharm., Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, College of Medicine Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Pharmacy 4209 St. Rt. 44, P.O. Box 95 Rootstown, Ohio 44272-0095 Phone: (330) 325-6658 Fax: (330) 325-5936 Email: adarvesh@neoucom.edu

Education:

Professional Experience:

Dr. Darvesh joined the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences in October 2007. He received his B.Pharm. degree from Pune University, India in 1996 and his M.Pharm. degree in pharmacology from Bombay University, India in 1998. He then worked for a year as Clinical Research Associate at Pfizer (India) Ltd. In 2005, he received his Ph.D. degree in pharmaceutical sciences/pharmacology from the College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, Ohio.

He then worked for two years, initially as Post-Doctoral Fellow and later as Instructor at the Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon.

His teaching interests include principles of drug action, receptor pharmacology, pharmacology of natural products, phytochemistry, neuropsychopharmacology, drugs of abuse and toxicology.

His research interests focus on studying the role of neurotoxicity, bioenergetic and oxidative stress in neurodegenerative diseases, and psychiatric illness. He is a member of several scientific organizations including Society for Neuroscience.

Research Interests:

Development of neuroprotective strategies and elucidation of the role of oxidative stress and bioenergetic stress in neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease as well as in psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia and posttraumatic stress disorder.

Elucidation of neurochemical mechanisms involved in neurotoxicity of amphetamines.

Mechanism of action of novel and atypical antipsychotics.

Preclinical studies utilize techniques such as microdialysis, HPLC, biochemical assays of neuronal metabolites, behavioral analysis in awake animals, immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, Western blots and Northern blots.

Publications:

Darvesh A.S., and Gudelsky G.A. Evidence for a role of energy dysregulation in the MDMA-induced depletion of brain 5-HT. Brain Res, 2005; 1056: 168-175.

Darvesh A.S., Yamamoto B.K. and Gudelsky G.A. Evidence for the involvement of nitric oxide in 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-induced sertonin depletion in the rat brain. J Pharmacol Exp Ther, 2005; 312: 694-701.

Darvesh A.S., and Gudelsky G.A. The relationship between hyperthermia and glycogenolysis in 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-induced serotonin depletion in rats. Neurotoxicol and Teratol, 2004; 26: 571-577.

Darvesh A.S., and Gudelsky G.A. Activation of 5-HT2 receptors induces glycogenolysis in the rat brain. Eur J Pharmacol, 2003; 464: 135-140.

Darvesh A.S., Shankaran M. and Gudelsky G.A. 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine produces glycogenolysis and increases the extracellular concentration of glucose in the rat brain. J Pharmacol Exp Ther, 2002; 300: 138-144.

Darvesh A.S., Saraf, M.N. and Menon M.D. Toxicological evaluation of methacrylic acid copolymers synthesized by gamma radiation. Indian Drugs, 1999; 36(4): 220-224.

Darvesh A.S., Saraf, M.N. and Menon, M.D. Toxicological evaluation of film forming methacrylic acid copolymers. Indian J Pharm Sci, 1999; 61(3): 179-181.