Amerandus Research Scientific and Pre-Clinical Research

History

 

The Bauchwitz Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory (Columbia University Department of Genetics and Development, and Department of Neurology, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Institute of Health Sciences, Columbia University) produced and studied mouse models of a human disorder of the mind, Fragile X Syndrome, which is the most common inherited form of mental retardation, as well as being associated with other significant neurological and psychological/psychiatric problems (e.g. an elevated incidence of seizures and a high incidence of autism, respectively).

 

The Bauchwitz Laboratory was the first to produce in vivo evidence showing that pharmaceutical agents specifically targeting metabotropic glutamate circuitry in the brains of mouse models of Fragile X Syndrome could produce mice with normal behavior and neurologic susceptibilities (Yan et. al., 2005). Of note, this work has been cited more than 400 times [1] , and most importantly, independently validated or reproduced more than a dozen times. It has also helped lead to clinical trials of several drugs.

 

This laboratory was also first to show that another altered biochemical activity, involving glycogen metabolism in the brains of Fragile X mouse models, could be positively impacted by both highly specific pharmacologic agents as well as the widely available medication, lithium (Min et. al., 2009). Again, of note, this work has been cited 97 times, validated or reproduced many times, and has also helped lead to clinical trials of lithium. [2]

 

A discussion of some areas of research interest are presented in blog posts.

 

 

Trademarks: USPTO, INPI