Luiz E. Mello

Luiz E. Mello

Research

The study of neuronal plasticity in its various forms represents the best definition of what my group investigates. On this broad theme we focus on 2 main areas: the process of epileptogenesis (how epilepsy develops on an animal) and strategies to modify it; the main features that differentiate rodents and primates (or across a broader range from C. elegans to mammals) at fundamental biological processes (e.g. immediate early genes). We use a host of techniques from neuropsychological inventories, to EEG and neurophysiological recordings, molecular biology, cell culture and in vivo models, from small invertebrates, to mice, rats, marmosets and humans.

Keywords: epilepsy, epileptogenesis, neuronal plasticity, immediate early genes, traumatic brain injury

EDUCATION

MD, PhD, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil

Post-doctoral fellow, Brain Research Institute, UCLA, USA

Executive management program, MIT and IMD, USA and Switzerland

INVESTIGATION AREAS

Neurosciences

ADITIONAL INFORMATION

AWARDS AND HONORS

Great Cross of the National Order of Scientific Merit (awarded by the President of Brazil, 2010)

Member, Brazilian Academy of Sciences (elected in 2010)

Scientific advisor to the CEO Advisory Board of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT 2010-2017)

Scientific Director at IDOR (2018-2020)

Scientific Director at São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP, 2020-2023)

Selected Publications

Benassi SK, Alves JGSM, Guidoreni CG, Massant CG, Queiroz CM, Garrido-Sanabria E, Loduca RDS, Susemihl MA, Paiva WS, de Andrade AF, Teixeira MJ, Andrade JQ, Garzon E, Foresti ML, Mello LE. Two decades of research towards a potential first anti-epileptic drug. Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy 2021. Aug;90:99-109. Epub 2021 Mar 3. PMID: 33714677
doi: 10.1016/j.seizure.2021.02.031

Magalhães SA, Foresti ML, Barros VN, Mello LE. Marmosets have a greater diversity of c‐Fos response after hyperstimulation in distinct cortical regions as compared to rats. Journal of Comparative Neurology 2021. May 1;529(7):1628-1641. Epub 2020 Oct 7. PMID: 32975324.
doi: 10.1002/cne.25044

Barros VN, Mundim M, Galindo LT, Bittencourt S, Porcionatto M, Mello LE. The pattern of c-Fos expression and its refractory period in the brain of rats and monkeys. Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience 2015. Mar 12;9:72. PMID: 25814929; PMCID: PMC4357304.
doi: 10.3389/fncel.2015.00072

Perez-Mendes P, Blanco MM, Calcagnotto ME, Cinini SM, Bachiega J, Papoti D, Covolan L, Tannus A, Mello LE. Modeling epileptogenesis and temporal lobe epilepsy in a non-human primate. Epilepsy Research 2011. Sep;96(1-2):45-57. Epub 2011 May 26. PMID: 21620680.
doi: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2011.04.015

Bittencourt S, Pereira CM, Avedissian M, Delamano A, Mello LE, Castilho BA. Distribution of the protein IMPACT, an inhibitor of GCN2, in the mouse, rat, and marmoset brain. Journal of Comparative Neurology 2008. Apr 10;507(5):1811-30. PMID: 18260151.
doi: 10.1002/cne.21652

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