Laboratory of pathophysiology

Andrey Alexandrovich Zozulya is the head of the Laboratory of pathophysiology, doctor of medical sciences, professor. He upheld his PhD thesis in biology “Influence of vitamin E on the energetic metabolism in the liver after vagotomy” in 1978 and defended his doctoral thesis “Opiates in the regulation of immunity” in 1990. His scientific interests involve: investigation of constitutionally determined neurochemical mechanisms of borderline psychiatric disorders and psychosomatic disorders, the role of peptidergic systems in the pathogenesis of anxiety and phobic disorders. The research done in the Laboratory is utmost closely related to the work of specialists in the field of chemistry of bio-active peptides of the Institute of Molecular Genetics of Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Bio-Organic Chemistry of RAS, as well as with clinical and psychological studies of the MHRC RAMS. He is an author of approximately 300 scientific publications. He was a scientific supervisor of 17 diploma works of students of Moscow State University and Russian State Medical University, a scientific supervisor and a co-supervisor of 8 PhD's theses. A.A. Zozulya is one of the founders and the first Vice-President of the Interregional Scientific Society of neuroimmunology and neuroimmunomodulation. He is participant in a number of international programs.

The laboratory was created in 1993, on the basis of a respective study group in the laboratory of clinical neuroimmunology.

The Laboratory has 7 research fellows.

Scope of research activities:

1. Investigation of neurochemical mechanisms of pathogenesis of anxiety disorders, based on the evaluation of endogenous opiate system of the brain in patients with anxiety and phobic disorders and in animal models.

2. Screening for biological activity and assessment of neurochemical mechanisms of action of psychoactive agents (anxiolytics, etc.).

3. Experimental evaluation of mechanisms underlying variable sensitivity to pharmaceuticals and assessment of dependence between efficacy and animal behavior.