{"id":755,"date":"2018-12-19T23:16:52","date_gmt":"2018-12-19T23:16:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.uthscsa.edu\/pharmacology\/?page_id=755"},"modified":"2018-12-19T23:16:52","modified_gmt":"2018-12-19T23:16:52","slug":"flavia-carreno","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/lsom.uthscsa.edu\/pharmacology\/research-faculty\/flavia-carreno\/","title":{"rendered":"Flavia Carre\u00f1o"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Assistant Professor\/Research<\/span><\/h3>\n

Ph.D., Cellular and Tissue Biology<\/span>
\nUniversity of S\u00e3o Paulo<\/span>
\nS\u00e3o Paulo, SP, Brazil<\/span>
\nEmail:<\/strong> carrenof@uthscsa.edu<\/span>
\nLab Association: Alan Frazer, Ph.D.<\/span>
\nResearch Interests<\/b>
\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
\u2022 Vagal nerve stimulation<\/span><\/td>\n\u2022 antidepressants<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u2022 treatment resistant depression \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n\u2022 neurotrophins<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u2022 TrkB receptor<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Research Activities<\/b>
\n 
\nMy current research focuses on alternative therapies for treatment resistant depression. Based on our recently published data showing that the sustained antidepressant-like response to ketamine is dependent on the activation of the ventral hippocampus, we propose a more translationally relevant approach by selectively targeting the hippocampus pharmacologically. In particular, we are exploiting the discrete localization of the alpha5-subunit of the GABAA receptor to modulate preferentially hippocampal activity. We have also published that such an approach produces an antidepressant-like response without the psychotomimetic effects and abuse related properties associated with the use of ketamine. Currently we are studying the mechanisms by which pharmacological augmentation of hippocampal activity produces sustained antidepressant-like effects.<\/span>
\n \u00a0<\/span>
\n Accomplishments, Awards and Honors\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n