Research activities, expertise & focus points:
The Pharmacology and Toxicology Department consists of two main research groups: The NeurodegeneraGADU research group and The Molecular Pathology research group. Our common concept is that research should be results oriented with a view to offering society the benefits of scientific progress.
Research groups in the department:
C.1 Neurodegenerative Diseases
Neurodegenerative Diseases and Neuroprotection
GUC Alzheimer’s Disease Unit (GADU)
C.2 Molecular Pathology and Genetics
C.1 The Neurodegenerative Diseases Group:
Studies the mechanism of different neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the progressive loss of structure and function of neurons.
Within the Group, the The GUC Alzheimer’s Disease Unit (GADU) has been established in 2012 by members of the Pharmacology & Toxicology and Physiology Department. This team is focusing on studying the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and exploring different treatment modalities for better management of the disease. Our goal is to develop a center of expertise in Alzheimer’s Disease at the GUC and establish a national relation with AD research care centers in Egypt as well as international cooperation with AD management research programs. The high enthusiasm of the staff members helps junior scientists to reach their full creative potential. A weekly journal club is held in the department where all members attend and discuss different research articles related to our field of interest (Alzheimer’s disease). Many distinguished undergraduate students joined this research group, assist the postgraduate students in their researches in the labs, participate in the journal club and present topics under the supervision of the staff members. This group has collaboration with the DZNE Center (German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases), Friedrich –Schiller- Universitat Jena, Goethe-University of Frankfurt, Germany as well as Technical University of Munich beside local collaboration.
C.2 The Molecular Pathology Research Group (MPRG):
and laboratory was established in 2007. This research group is interested in translational medicine with special focus on pharmacogenomics and epigenetic regulation of the host immune response in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). The target goal is aiming at personalized medicine for Egyptian patients. Gender variation in genetic response to interferon therapy, epigenetic regulation and role of microRNAs in HCV replication and host genetic response to infection, new molecular targeted therapies for HCV infection, role of microRNAs and their downstream genes/proteins in the pathogenesis of SLE are different examples of research topics studied by this group. International collaborations include University of Heidelberg, University of Frankfurt, Institute of Clinical Genetics, Dresden, as well as national cooperations.