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Research
Currently seeking M.S. students
Veronica Galvan, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Cellular and Integrative Physiology
The focus of my research is on the molecular processes that lead to dementia in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other neurological disorders of aging. I have generated mouse models of AD and used them to reveal mechanisms of neurodegeneration. Recently, my laboratory identified the mammalian-target of rapamycin (mTOR) as a central driver of disease in models of AD and vascular cognitive impairment, providing the first evidence for a molecular pathway that links aging to age-associated dementias. We identified the brain vasculature as a site of action of mTOR in AD pathogenesis, and recently singled out the cerebrovasculature as a novel target of tau toxicity in tauopathies, including but not limited to AD. Another focus of my group is the development of the common marmoset, a non-human primate (NHP), as a model of AD.
The goal of my laboratory is to advance our understanding of AD using rodent and NHP models. We strive to define how (a) mTOR activity and (b) pathogenic tau-induced brain cellular senescence mediate astrocyte, neuron and cerebrovascular dysfunction in AD. To answer these questions, we use rodent and NHP primary culture-based models, in vivo optical and functional brain imaging, whole-tissue and single-cell proteomic and transcriptomic approaches, and neurobehavioral tools to measure the impact of experimental interventions on functional outcomes, and define the mechanisms involved. I expect that our work will help close gaps in our understanding of AD and other tauopathies and determine how mTOR, pathogenic tau and cellular senescence can be targeted for therapeutic purposes, to fundamentally advance research in the neurodegeneration and geroscience fields.
Related diseases: Alzheimer’s disease, tauopathies, vascular cognitive impairment/dementia, Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias
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Professional Background
Education
- 1999 - PhD - Virology - University of Chicago
- 1994 - MS - Molecular Biology - CAECE University
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Instruction & Training
- - Present, High School/Junior High School Student Supervision, UTHSCSA
- 5/2015 - Present, Pre-Doctoral Student Supervision, UTHSCSA
- 1/2015 - Present, Dental Physiology, The University of Texas Health Science Center
- 1/2015 - Present, Biology of Aging, The University of Texas Health Science Center
- 12/2014 - Present, Rotation Student Supervision, UTHSCSA/IMGP
- 10/2014 - Present, Individual Instruction, UTHSCSA
- 7/2014 - Present, Individual Instruction, UTHSCSA
- 7/2014 - Present, Individual Instruction, UTHSCSA
- 1/2014 - Present, Post-Doctoral Student Supervision, UTHSCSA
- 11/2013 - Present, Rotation Student Supervision, UTHSCSA/IMGP
- 9/2013 - Present, Rotation Student Supervision, UTHSCSA/IMGP
- 5/2013 - Present, Individual Instruction, UTHSCSA
- 1/2013 - Present, Fundamentals of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center
- 12/2012 - Present, Ph.D. Dissertations Directed, UTHSCSA
- 11/2012 - Present, Rotation Student Supervision, UTHSCSA/IMGP
- 11/2012 - Present, Rotation Student Supervision, UTHSCSA/IMGP
- 9/2012 - Present, Rotation Student Supervision, UTHSCSA/IMGP
- 6/2012 - Present, Individual Instruction, UTHSCSA
- 5/2012 - Present, Individual Instruction, UTHSCSA
- 1/2012 - Present, Ph.D. Dissertations Directed, UTHSCSA
- 1/2012 - Present, Ph.D. Dissertations Directed, UTHSCSA
- 11/2011 - Present, Rotation Student Supervision, UTHSCSA/IMGP
- 6/2011 - Present, Individual Instruction, UTHSCSA
- 5/2011 - Present, Individual Instruction, UTHSCSA
- 9/2010 - Present, Rotation Student Supervision, UTHSCSA/IMGP
- 8/2010 - Present, Post-Doctoral Student Supervision, UTHSCSA
- 2/2010 - Present, Rotation Student Supervision, UTHSCSA/IMGP
- 1/2010 - Present, Individual Instruction, UTHSCSA
- 11/2009 - Present, Rotation Student Supervision, UTHSCSA/IMGP
- 9/2009 - Present, Rotation Student Supervision, UTHSCSA/IMGP
- 10/2008 - Present, Individual Instruction, UTHSCSA
- 1/2007 - Present, Pre-Doctoral Student Supervision, Buck Institute Summer Undergraduate Research Program
- 1/2005 - Present, Pre-Doctoral Student Supervision, Buck Istitute Summer Undergraduate Research Program
- 1/2002 - Present, Pre-Doctoral Student Supervision, Buck Institute Summer Undergraduate Research Prgoram
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Research & Grants
Work at the Galvan laboratory is focused on the identification of molecular and biochemical alterations that cause Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. We use genetic manipulations in rodents, biochemical physiological, and behavioral approaches, in vivo optical brain imaging, MRI- and PET-based functional imaging as well as cellular and molecular biology tools to understand the triggering events in Alzheimer's and other dementias, determine the potential of drug candidate molecules, and define the mechanisms involved. The Galvan laboratory is located on the third floor of the South Texas Centers for Biology in Medicine Building at UT Health San Antonio.
Grants
Federal
Funding Agency NIH/NIA Title NIH/NIA SA Nathan Shock Center of Excellence in the Biology of Aging Status Active Period 7/2015 - 6/2020 Role Co-Investigator Grant Detail This Center project supports the San Antonio Nathan Shock Center of Excellence whose goal is to provide services to enable research in the biology of aging and in age-associated diseases.
*Highlight: I led and wrote the Healthspan and Functional Assessment Core for this Center program application. This application received a perfect score. Funding Agency Veterans Administration Research and Development Merit Award Title Inhibiting the TOR Pathway to Combat Alzheimer`s Disease Status Active Period 1/2015 - 1/2019 Role Principal Investigator Grant Detail Goals of this project are to determine the mechanisms of action of rapamycin in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer?s and establish the therapeutic potential for rapamycin or other TOR inhibitors in the treatment of AD.Private
Funding Agency JMR Barker Foundation Title Exploring the potential for rapamycin as a therapy for Alzheimer?s disease and other dementias Status Active Period - Present Role Principal Investigator Grant Detail The goal of this project is to determine whether rapamycin can restore cerebral blood flow in AD patients
No expiration (Grant total $1,000,000)
Funding Agency Robert L. Bailey and daughter Lisa K. Bailey Alzheimer?s Fund Title Vascular mechanisms of Alzheimer?s disease and other dementias Status Active Period - Present Role Principal Investigator Grant Detail Determine the mechanisms by which TOR-dependent cerebrovascular dysfunction links brain aging to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer?s disease - No Expiration Funding Agency Robert J. Kleberg and Helen C. Kleberg Foundation Title Mechanisms of neurodegeneration and the role of astrocytes: Insights into Alzheimer`s disease Status Active Period 1/2015 - 12/2019 Role Contributor Grant Detail The goal of this project is to determine the role of astrocytes in the early stages of Alzheimer?s disease
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Publications
Journal Article
Jahrling J, Galvan V. Neurobehavioral approaches to cognitive aging and age-associated neurodegeneration in rodent models (In Press) JoVE (J Vis Exp) 2015 Jan;. Pomilio C, Beauquis J, VinuesaA, Pavia P, Galvan V, Saravia F. Glial alterations from early to late stages in a model of Alzheimer?s disease: Evidence of autophagy involvement in amyloid-beta internalization. (In press) Hippocampus 2015 Jan;.
Review Article
Galvan V. TOR-dependent cerebrovascular aging in Alzheimer?s disease (In Press) Curr Trends Neurol 2015 Jan;. Galvan V, Jahrling J, Hussong SA. Neurovascular mechanisms of pathogenesis in Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders (In Press) Prog Neurobiol 2015 Jan;. Galvan V. Neurovascular mechanisms of TOR-dependent brain aging in neurological disease (Invited Contribution) Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) 2015 Jan;.