Scavone, Cristoforo
Cristoforo Scavone is a Principal Investigator at the Neuropharmacology Research Laboratory at the University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil, specializing in molecular biology and biochemistry with a focus on aging and related diseases. With a degree in Pharmacy and Biochemistry from the University of São Paulo (USP), a master's and PhD in Pharmacology from USP, and a Post-doctorate from the Massachusetts General Hospital - Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA. Associate Professor at USP (2003), Member of the São Paulo State Academy of Sciences (2012), PhD coordinator of the Department and of the Institute of Biomedical Science (2006-2012), and Head of the Department of Pharmacology (2013-2017) at USP. He is a Professor at the Department of Pharmacology of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences at USP (2009-) and a Research Fellow 1A from CNPq (National Council for Scientific and Technological Development). Contributed to the field of Pharmacology and Neuroscience with emphasis on neuroinflammation, Na, K-ATPase, and signaling cascade linked to aging, degenerative diseases, and neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. He has explored changes in the signaling cascade in the brain and its correlation with peripheral diseases (chronic kidney disease, asthma, obesity) and chronic unpredictable stress linked to the inflammation process. Throughout his career, Scavone has introduced new knowledge in studies of adaptive responses associated with inflammatory messengers, hormesis, and cognition involving cardiotonic steroids, glucocorticoids, Klotho protein, and glutamate. As a member of the Brazilian Na, K-ATPse group, he has organized various Meetings in Brazilian institutions. These events are a pivotal platform for scientific discussions that significantly advance fundamental knowledge in Na, K-ATPase biochemistry, molecular biology, and related fields. This group has recently introduced new selective cardiotonic steroids (Benzylidene Digoxin) with a potential therapeutic effect in a rare neurological disorder (Alternating hemiplegia of childhood). He is a Member of the Editorial Board of PlosOne, Scientific Reports, British Journal of Pharmacology, Frontiers in Endocrinology, and Aging Neuroscience. With over 150 publications in PubMed, he has research projects funded by prestigious Brazilian agencies like FAPESP (The State of Sao Paulo Research Agency), CNPq, CAPES (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel), and FINEP (The Financier of Studies and Projects - Innovation and Research Program from Brazil Science and Technology Ministery). As a mentor to graduate students and postdocs, he has formed a new generation of professors and scientists in Brazil and foreign institutions, leading to improvement in research in the field of neuropharmacology and neuroscience.
Iwashe, Elisa Mitiko Kawamoto
Elisa Mitiko Kawamoto is associate professor and principal investigator of Laboratory of Molecular and Functional Neurobiology at Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo. specializing in neuropharmacology with a focus on the brain plasticity and non-pharmacological strategies against cognitive deficit. With a Ph.D. from University of São Paulo and postdoctoral training at National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health in Baltimore USA. I started my independent position ten years ago, since then I have been focused to investigate potential effects of non-pharmacological strategies for the treatment of brain diseases. One of my research interests is related to study the effects of calorie restriction or physical exercise to ameliorate cognitive deficits induced by diverse factors such as neuroinflammation, aging and neurological disorders. My contribution to this field is that intermittent fasting, physical exercise and intermittent fasting mimetics (phytochemicals) can ameliorate cognitive dysfunction induced by factors mentioned above. My laboratory has been looked for the effects of these strategies to boost chronic neuroinflammation which can cause deficit in learning and memory processes, impacting a normal brain function and it can be one of the underlying mechanisms of neurodegeneration involved in the pathogenesis of several brain diseases such as Alzheimer´s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and others. I have been training undergraduate, master and PhD students and supervising postdoctoral trainees in my own laboratory which has been focused to study calorie restriction and physical exercise as non-pharmacological strategies. Besides, in this period I was granted with funds and fellowships (master, PhD and post-doctoral) from state and federal agency fundings. During this time my laboratory has been acquired more techniques, not only coming from my background trainings but also from collaborators inside the country and abroad.
