Departments & Divisions
Institutes & Centers
Elizabeth Fernandez, PhD
Assistant Professor, Research
Aging is the main risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a disorder of the brain that leads to shaking (tremors) and difficulty with walking, movement, and coordination. My studies are focused to test the role of impaired detoxification of biogenic aldehydes and reactive oxygen species in the Gpx1/Aldh1a1 double KO model of Parkinson’s disease and whether the use of aldehyde trapping agents and N-acetylcysteine, separately and/or together will revert the effects, and could provide a new therapeutic approach to intervention in Parkinson’s disease. The objectives in these studies are to examine the role of two genes, aldehyde dehydrogenase 1a1 (Aldh1a1) and the glutamate peroxidase 1 (Gpx1), each of whose expression is notably reduced in the nigrostriatal pathway in Parkinson’s disease, and the effects of the aldehyde trapping agent-hydralazine- and or the glutathione precursor N-acetylcysteine in preventing or attenuating the progression of Parkinson’s disease.
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Professional Background
Education
- 1996 - PhD - Cellular & Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology - University of Nevada
- 1988 - MS - Biology/Biochemistry - Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Cientificas
- 1984 - BS - Nutrition and Dietetics - Universidad Central de Venezuela
- Postdoctoral Fellowship - Pharmacology - The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Appointments
- 6/2007 - Research Health Scientist - South Texas Veterans Health Care SystemSan Antonio
- 12/2004 - Research Instructor and Research Development - The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Pharmacology, San Antonio
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Instruction & Training
- 5/2006 - Present, Pre-Doctoral Student Supervision, UTHSCSA
- 5/2006 - Present, Undergraduate Student Supervision, UTHSCSA
- 5/2002 - Present, High School/Junior High School Student Supervision, UTHSCSA