Robert Bornstein, PhD
Professor of Psychiatry

Contact Information:

(614) 293-4774

Recent research has focused on neuropsychological abnormalities associated with HIV infection.  Areas of investigation have included delineation of the factors associated with the presence or severity of cognitive deficits, implications of cognitive deficits for daily function, and effects of antiretroviral treatment on cognitive function.  The most recent areas of investigation have examined the impact of stressful life events on cognitive function, and the role of previous alcohol abuse/dependence on current function.

Mary A. Fristad, Ph.D., ABPP
Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology
Director of Research and Psychological Services
Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Contact Information:

Neurosciences Facility
1670 Upham Drive
Columbus, OH 43210
(614) 293-4572 (Phone)
(614) 293-4949 (Fax)
mary.fristad@osumc.edu

Hossam Guirgis, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry

Contact Information:

1670 Upham Drive
Columbus, OH 43210
(614) 293-4767

Protocol DRI6726:  A 24-week, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, parallel-group, dose ranging study of the efficacy and safety of oral doses of AVE1625 5, 10, and 30 mg and placebo on top of an established treatment regimen of either Olanzapine, Risperidone/Paliperidone, Quetiapine, or Aripiprazole monotherapy in the treatment of cognitive impairment in schizophrenia.

Research study for adults 19-65 with stable schizophrenia who are being treated with an atypical antipsychotic.

Protocol AZD3480:  A multi-center, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel group, phase IIb proof of concept study with 3 oral dose groups of AZD3480 during 12 weeks treatment of cognitive deficits in patients with schizophrenia.

Research study for patients ages 18-55 with stable schizophrenia who are being treated with an atypical antipsychotic and who are active cigarette smokers.

Co-Investigator:  Genetic and biological markers of schizophrenia spectrum disorders and treatment response.

Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology
Director of the Division of Health Psychology

Department of Psychiatry

Contact Information:

Neurosciences Facility
1670 Upham Drive
Columbus, OH 43210
Phone: (614) 292-0033
Fax: (614) 292-0038
Email: kiecolt-glaser.1@osu.edu 

Website : http://pni.psychiatry.ohio-state.edu/jkg/

Current Research:

Dr. Kiecolt-Glaser's research focuses on psychological influences on immune and endocrine function. Working in the area of psychoneuroimmunology, she has authored more than 160 articles, chapters, and books, most in collaboration with Dr. Ronald Glaser. Their studies have demonstrated important health consequences of stress, including slower wound healing and impaired vaccine responses in older adults; in addition, their programmatic work has focused on the ways in which personal relationships influence immune and endocrine function, and health.

Maria Hadjiconstantinou-Neff, MD/PhD
Professor for Departments of Psychiatry and Pharmacology
Director, Division of Molecular Psychopharmacology in Psychiatry

Contact Information:

neff.6@osu.edu

Neurochemistry; Neuropsychopharmacology: Cellular Signaling; Neurodegeneration and Repair

Research Area:

Research is focused on understanding the cellular, molecular, and genomic substrate(s) of CNS disorders and developing models for putative therapeutic intervention. In addressing the problem a multifaceted approach is used that might utilize studies in whole animals, isolated brain structures, cell cultures or artificial systems. Techniques used include: whole animal treatments; behavioral testing; cell cultures; in situ systems such as brain slices or synaptosomes; analysis of neurotransmitter receptors, transporters and enzymes by binding/autoradiography, activity estimation, western blots and ELISA, PCR, northern blots and in situ hybridization; neurotransmitter estimation by HPLC and RIA; investigation of signaling pathways by Western Blots, in vitro kinase assays, shift gels, etc.

Current Projects:

• Investigation of signaling cascades used by neurotrophic factors to exert their neurorestorative/neuroprotective effects in the brain and spinal cord of aged animals, as well as in an animal model of Parkinson's Disease.
• Investigation of the role of the endogenous opioids in nicotine addiction and withdrawal.
• Investigation of the mechanisms involved in the regulation of aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase, the enzyme responsible for converting L-DOPA to dopamine.
• Investigation of the action of psychostimulants on the lentovirus infection of neural cells.

David Saffen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor 
Departments of Pharmacology and Psychiatry
Associate Director of OSU Program in Pharmacogenomics

Contact Information:

Phone:  614-688-4573
Fax:  614-292-7232
E-mail:  saffen.1@osu.edu

Research Interests:

Neuropsychopharmacology, receptor mechanisms, signal transduction, regulation of intracellular protein kinases and calcuium influx; inducible gene expression in the central nervious system, neuronal plasticity, Alzeheimer's disease, the genetics and pharmacogenomics of schizophrenia, and major depression and anxiety disorders. 

Research Projects:

My lab is currently pursuing two lines of research.  The first focuses on neuronal M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, which function in attention, learning and memory, psychosis and possibly, protection from Alzeheimer's disease.  Our goal is to elucidate intra cellular signaling events that are regulated by M1 receptors, including calcium influx, activation of protein kinases and induction of gene expression.  We anticipate that a clear understanidng of downstream signaling pathways will lead to the identification of novel drug targets for the treatment of memory deficits in Alzheimer's disease and psychosis in schizophrenia and other mental disorders.

Our second line of research focuses on the identification of genes that contribute to mental illness, in particiular schizophrenia,major depression and anxiety disorders.  We hypothesize that genetic variants that alter the expression of key genes (i.e., producing too little or too much mRNA) contribute to the etiology of mental disorders.  To test this hypothesis, we:  1) examine candidate mental illness genes for allele-specific differences in mRNA expression, i.e., allelic expression imbalance (AEI_; 2) search for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located within or near each gene for which allelic heterozygosity correlates with AEI; and 3) look for possible associations between high- or low-expressing alleles of these SNPs and mental illness.  We recently demonstrated AEI for tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) mRNA in human pons and identified high- and how-expressing alleles for several TPH2 SNPs.  We will next investigate whether low-expressing alleles of these SNPs associate with major depression or anxiety disorders.  Our work on the genetics of mental illness is carried out in close collaboration with the laboratory of Wolfgang Sadee and the Core Lab of the OSU Program in Pharmacogenomics.

Techniques

The techniques we use include: 1) analysis of intracellular kinases and gene expression in neurons an neuronal cells, 2) chromatin immunoprecipitation assays to identify the targets of transcription factor genes, 3) antisense RNA and siRNA, 4) single-cell imaging of calcium influx, 5) culture of neuronal cell lines, 6) genotyping using real-time PCR, primer-extension, and SNplex assays, 7) quantification of allele-specific mRNA expression in human brain, 8) most standard techniques of molecular biology.

Recent Publications

Zhang, L. and Saffen, D. Muscarinic acetylcholine regulation of Trp6 Ca2+ channel isoforms:  molecular structures and functional characterizations.  Journal of Biological Chemistry 276, 13331-13339, 2001.

Guo, F.-F., Kumahara, E. and Saffen, D. A CalDAG-GEFI/Rap1/B-Raf cassetee couples M1 muscarinic acetyllcholine receptors to the activation of ERK1/2.  Journal of Biological Chemistry 276, 25568-25581, 2001

Kim, J. -Y. and Saffen, D. Activation of M1 muscarinic acetycholine receptors stimulates the formation of a multiprotein complex centered on TRPC6 channels.  Journal of Biological Chemistry 280, 32035-32047, 2005.

Ebihara, T., Guo, F., Zhang, L., Kim, J.-Y. and Saffen, D.  Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors stimulate CA2+ influx in PC12D cells predominately via activation of CA2+ store-operated channels.  Journal of Biochemistry 139, 449-458, 2006.

Zhang, I., Guo, F., Kim, J.-Y. and Saffen, D.  Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors activate TRPC6 channels in PC12D cells via CA2+ store-dependent mechanisms.  Journal of Biochemistry 139, 459-470, 2006

Lim, J.-E., Papp, A., Pinsonneault, J., Sadee, W., and Saffen, D.  Allel expression of serotonin transporter (SERT) mRNA in human pons:  lack of correlation with the polymorphism SERTPR.  Molecular Psychiatry 11, 649-662, 2006.

Lim, J.-E., Pinsonneault, J., Sadee, W., and Saffen, D.  Tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) haplotypes predict levels of TPH2 mRNA expression in human pons.  Molecular Psychiatry 12, 491-501, 2007.

Nicholas Votolato, R.Ph.
Current Projects (in progress or in the process of development)

Depression:

Protocol CAGO178A2304: “A 52-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center, parallel-group study of the long-term efficacy, tolerability and safety of agomelatine 25 and 50 mg in the prevention of relapse of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) following open-label treatment of 16-24 weeks.”

This investigational drug is the first in a new class of antidepressants which targets melatonin for adults 18-70 years of age.

Bipolar Depression:

Protocol A1281158: "A Six-Week, Double-Blind, Multicenter, Placebo Controlled Study Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Flexible Doses of Oral Ziprasidone as add-on, Adjunctive Therapy with Lithium, Valproate or Lamotrigine in Bipolar I Depression."

Research study of the effectiveness and safety of Ziprasidone in combination with a mood stabilizer (lithium, valproate or lamotrigine) for treatment of Bipolar I depression who are at least 18 years of age.

Anxiety:

Protocol A 5361017: “A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled, Parallel Group, 10-Week Study Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of PD 0332334 for the Treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder.”

Research study of an investigational medication for generalized anxiety disorder in adults ages 18-65.           

Schizophrenia:

Protocol DRI6726: “A 24-Week, Multicenter, Double-Blind, Randomized, Parallel-Group, Dose Ranging Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Oral Doses of AVE1625 5, 10, and 30 mg and Placebo on Top of an Established Treatment Regimen of Either Olanzapine, Risperidone/Paliperidone, Quetiapine, or Aripiprazole Monotherapy in the Treatment of Cognitive Impairment in Schizophrenia.”

Research study for adults 18-65 with stable schizophrenia who are being treated with an atypical antipsychotic.

Protocol AZD3480: “A multi-center randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel group, phase IIb proof of concept study with 3 oral dose groups of AZD3480 during 12 weeks treatment of cognitive deficits in patients with schizophrenia.”

Research study for patients ages 18-55 with stable schizophrenia who are being treated with an atypical antipsychotic and who are active cigarette smokers.

For more information about any of the clinical trials listed above, please contact Betsy Miller in the OSU Department of Psychiatry at (614) 293-0195 or e-mail betsy.miller@osumc.edu.

In progress or in the process of development.

• A double blind comparison of Bupropion XL and placebo in the prevention of seasonal depressive episodes in patients with a history of seasonal affective disorder.
• Comparison of pharmacokinetics of Olanzapine-Zydis^R and Risperidone-M^R in healthy human subjects.
• Solubility of Risperidone-M^R in different administration solutions.
• Cost analysis of Risperidone-M^R versus Risperidone liquid in hospitalized patients.
• Tolerability of Aripiprazole in hospitalized children and adolescents.
• Assessment of long-term continuation therapy of antidepressants in a VA population.
• Assessment of weight gain in long-term use of antidepressants in a VA population.
• Use of a visual analogue scale to assess the effectiveness of intramuscular ziprasidone in a unversity emergency department.
• The changes of Cytochrome P-450 2D6 in the first trimester of pregnancy bipolar manic patients through plasma levels of perphenazzine.
• Electrophysiological differences of antidepressants on pacemakers in patients with cardiomyopathy.
• Acute weight changes in hospitalized children and adolescents on combination therapy of mood stabilizers.
• Linkage of endophenotypes and pharmacogenomics in families of children with bipolar disorder