Francisca Pinheiro
Targeting peptide drugs based on the activity state of synapses
Francisca Pinheiro, Dept. of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, has been awarded a postdoc research grant from the Lundbeck Foundation worth DKK 2.399.969
In the brain, excitatory neurotransmitters (e.g., glutamate) increase the likelihood that the post-synaptic neuron fires an action potential. While this is essential for several brain functions, including learning and memory, the overactivity of excitatory neurotransmission has been associated with several brain disorders, turning the components of excitatory synapses into attractive drug targets. Yet, the development of drugs that reduce excitatory neurotransmission comes with the risk of affecting normal brain function. This project aims to contribute to tackle this problem by developing a mechanism for targeting hyperactive synapses.
