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Nigel Calcutt, Ph.D.

Professor

 

 

 

 

Office tel: 858 534 5331 Lab tel: 858 534 3309 Fax: 858 534 1886 Email: ncalcutt@ucsd.edu
Biography
B.Sc. Zoology (first class honors), Nottingham University 1985 Ph.D. Physiology and Pharmacology, Nottingham University, 1988 Nigel Calcutt received his Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology in 1985 and his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Physiology and Pharmacology in 1988, both from the University of Nottingham. He was then a Postdoc Fellow in Pharmacology at St. Bartholomews Hospital, University of London, UK. Dr. Calcutt was appointed in 1993 as Assistant Adjunct Professor of Pathology at UCSD. He was promoted to Professor in July 2005.
Research Title
Peripheral Neuropathies
Research Description
My research is focused on mechanisms of peripheral nerve disease and the identification of new therapeutic approaches to prevent onset of neuropathy or alleviate symptoms of an existing neuropathy such as sensory loss or pain. Most students and Fellows in my laboratory work on cellular and animal models of diabetic neuropathy although we also have projects looking at the toxic neuropathies that are side effects of certain cancer drugs and at models of HIV-associated peripheral neuropathy. We have adopted a multi-disciplinary approach to addressing the etiology of diabetic neuropathy and apply a diverse array of techniques that range from molecular and biochemical investigations of fundamental disease mechanisms to physiologic and behavioral assessments of nerve function and the efficacy of potential therapeutic strategies. We also collaborate with a number of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, so that the etiologic mechanisms that we propose can be tested by rational drug design and in vivo pharmacology and ultimately by clinical trials. Students wishing to work in my laboratory must have a sense of adventure, want to appreciate the full spectrum of a disease process and be flexible enough to answer research questions by application of a range of experimental techniques.
Recent Publications
Jolivalt CG, Lee CA, Ramos KM, Calcutt NA.(2008) Allodynia and hyperalgesia in diabetic rats are mediated by GABA and depletion of spinal potassium-chloride co-transporters. Pain 140:48-57. Ramos KM, Jiang Y, Svensson CI, Calcutt NA.(2007) Pathogenesis of spinally mediated hyperalgesia in diabetes. Diabetes 56:1569-1576. Jolivalt CG, Vu Y, Mizisin LM, Mizisin AP, Calcutt NA. (2008) Impaired prosaposin secretion during nerve regeneration in diabetic rats and protection of nerve regeneration by a prosaposin-derived peptide. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 67:702-710 Calcutt NA, Jolivalt CG, Fernyhough P. (2008) Growth factors as therapeutics for diabetic neuropathy. Curr Drug Targets 9:47-59. References References From PubMed (NCBI)

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