Florin Despa

JAD profile

Affiliation(s): 

University of Kentucky College of Medicine

Lab URL: 

http://pharmacology.med.uky.edu/users/fde226

Areas of Interest: 

Alzheimer's and Diabetes

Biography & Research: 

Dr. Florin Despa is on the faculty of the Department of Pharmacology at The University of Kentucky. Research in his laboratory focuses on deciphering the pathobiology of the interaction between the pancreatic hormone amylin and neurovascular unit. Specifically, Dr. Despa investigates the role of amylin dyshomeostasis in triggering signaling events that promote neuroinflammation and means to reduce amylin-mediated deleterious effects on brain function. To address these questions, Despa laboratory integrates biochemical investigations of human tissues with clinical data, physiological analyses and in vivo phenotyping using genetically engineered rodent models. Work in his lab is funded by National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Alzheimer’s Association, American Heart Association and American Diabetes Association.