School of Pharmacy

Roberta Diaz Brinton, PhD

Research Interest

Our research has two goals: 1) elucidation of fundamental cellular mechanisms of cognitive function and neural defense; 2) and the application of those principles to the discovery and design of therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of disorders of the nervous system.

To achieve these goals, we have investigated the neurobiology of gonadal steroid hormones, including neurosteroid metabolites, in brain regions involved in learning and memory and vulnerable to Alzheimer's disease. In addition to steroid hormones, we have investigated mechanisms of action of the neuropeptide hormone vasopressin which promotes memory function and regulates neural development. Our 20 years of basic science discovery has led to translational research endeavors to prevent, delay progression of pathology and treat Alzheimer's disease as well as a treatment strategy for learning disability and autism.

Biography

Professor Brinton earned her Ph.D. in Psychobiology and Neuropharmacology from the University of Arizona as a National Institutes of Health Predoctoral fellow. She continued her postdoctoral research in Neuroendocrinology at Rockefeller University as a National Institutes of Health postdoctoral fellow and joined the USC faculty in 1988.

Dr. Roberta Diaz Brinton is the R. Pete Vanderveen Endowed Chair in Therapeutic Discovery and Development and Professor of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Southern California. She is the Director of the USC Science, Technology and Research Program (STAR) science education outreach program. Dr. Brinton is also the Director of the Center for Scientific Translation within the Los Angeles Basin Clinical Translational Science Institute whose partner institutions include the University of Southern California, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, Kaiser Permanente of Southern California and City of Hope.

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PubMed Search — Research Contracts & Grants

Research Support

National Institute on Aging

The Kenneth T. and Eileen Norris Foundation

The Jane and Gale Bensussen Gift for Translational Research

Selected Projects/Publications

Wang JM,Singh C,Liu L,Irwin RW,Chen S,Chung EJ,Thompson RF,Brinton RD.Allopregnanolone reverses nuerogenic and cognitive deficits in mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.Proc Natl Acad Sci USA.2010 Apr 6;107(14):6498-503.Epub 2010 Mar 15.Erratum in:Proc Natl Acad Sci USA.2010 Jun 15;107(24):11145.PMID:20231471.

Henderson VW, Brinton RD. Menopause and mitochondria: windows into estrogen effects on Alzheimer's disease risk and therapy. Prog Brain Res. 2010;182:77-96. PMID: 20541661

Yao J, Hamilton RT, Cadenas E, Brinton RD. Decline in mitochondrial bioenergetics and shift to ketogenic profile in brain during reproductive senescence. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2010 Jun 9. PMID: 20538040