Biography

Dr. Barreto earned his PhD in Neuroscience (2009) from the Universidad Complutense Madrid (Spain) studying the effects of neurosteroids on reactive glia with traumatic brain injury under the supervision of Professor Luis Miguel Garcia-Segura. His Post-doctoral training in Neuroscience at Stanford University School of Medicine (2009-2011), under the mentorship of Professor Rona G. Giffard, focused on addressing the role of astrocytes activation following stroke and enhance astrocytic functions targeting neuronal protection. With the collaboration of Professor Carla J. Shatz, also from Stanford, Dr Barreto and cols discovered that both PirB receptor and MHCI molecules are involved in the physiopathology of stroke by regulating astroglia activation and behavioural outcome. Nowadays he is a Lecturer in Cell Biology/Immunology in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Limerick (Ireland), is a member of the Bernal Institute and Health Research Institute from the same University.


Associate Editor, Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience

Associate Editor, Frontiers in Neurology/Neurotrauma
Associate Editor, Frontiers in Neuroscience
Associate Editor, Frontiers in Nutrition
Associate Editor, Nutritional Neuroscience
Academic Editor, Plos One
Associate Editor, BMC Neurology
Consulting Editor, Pharmacological Research

Current Students

2019 Oscar Hidalgo Lanussa. Ph.D. in Biological Sciences
2019 Angie Garzón. M.Sc in Neurosciences

Students supervised

2019 Yeimy González. Ph.D. in Biological Sciences
2018 Eliana Báez. Ph.D. in Biological Sciences
2017 Ricardo Cabezas. Ph.D. in Biological Sciences
2016 Marco Ávila-Rodriguez. Ph.D. in Biological Sciences

2016 Oscar Hidalgo Lanussa. M.Sc in Biological Sciences
2016 Natalia Areiza. M.Sc in Nutrition Sciences

Research Interests

We are keen to understand how androgens and estrogens affect brain functions, particularly on how these hormones control mitochondrial functions in the healthy and diseased brain with life span in a sex dimorphic manner. We are currently investigating these research areas:
  • The effects of synthetic hormones (e.g. tibolone) on mitochondria metabolism.
  • Hormonal signaling affecting cellular outcome, and how important this is for mitochondrial respiration under neurological diseases in presence or absence of hormones.
  • Dysregulation of lipid metabolism within mitochondria and neuroimmune response following brain damage.
  • Drug design and development of new drugs analogues to hormones for targeting mitochondria

Research Areas:
Neuroendocrinology
Neurobiology
Neurosciences

Key Terms:
Mitochondria
Biological Sex differences
Brain
Glial Cells
Neurosteroids
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Hormones
Neuroinflammation
Traumatic brain injury

Professional Activities

Committee

  • 2019 Grants Reviewer (Expert). National Science Centre Poland, Poland,
  • 2019 Grants Reviewer (Expert). Ministery of Science, Technology and Innovation (Foncyt), Programme PICT, Argentina,
  • 2019 Evaluation Committee (Expert). H2020-MSCA-IF-2019, European Commission,
  • 2018 Evaluation Committee. MFP-COFUND PhD fellowships, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain,
  • 2018 Grant Review. National Research Council (Colciencias),
  • 2018 Evaluation Committee. Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. National Research Council (Colciencias),
  • 2018 Evaluation Committee (Expert). H2020-MSCA-IF-2018, European Commission,
  • 2017 Grant Review. Career Development Award, Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP), France,
  • 2017 Evaluation Committee. Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. National Research Council (Colciencias),
  • 2017 Book proposal reviewer. Title: Neuroprotection in Autism, Schizophrenia & Alzheimer's Disease,
  • 2016 Grant Review. National Research Council (Colciencias),
  • 2015 Grant Review. National Research Council (Colciencias),
  • 2014 Ad-Hoc and Evaluation Committee. Grants Program,
  • 2014 Evaluation Committee – Grant Review. Parkinson UK,
  • 2014 Grant Review. National Research Council (Colciencias),

Employment

  • 2009 Stanford University School of Medicine - Post-Doctoral Fellow in Neurosciences

Award

  • 2009 - Postdoctoral Fellowship
  • 2005 - WERC/FENS PhD Fellowship

Education

  • 2009 Complutense University Madrid - PhD in Biological Sciences

Language

  • Portuguese
  • Spanish

Association

  • Member, International Brain Research Organization
  • Full member, International Society for Neurochemistry
  • Full member, Federation of European Neuroscience Societies
  • Full member, European Society of Neurochemistry

Research Collaborators

  • Luis Miguel Garcia- Segura - International Collaboration Type -Spain -Cajal Institute, Madrid, Spain
  • Roberto C. Melcangi - International Collaboration Type - University of Milan -Italy
  • Valentina Echeverria - Joint Publication -Chile -Universidad San Sebastián
  • Janneth González - Joint Publication

Peer Reviewed Journals

2021

Dissecting Sex-Related Cognition between Alzheimer's Disease and Diabetes: From Molecular Mechanisms to Potential Therapeutic Strategies.

Ashraf GM;Ebada MA;Suhail M;Ali A;Uddin MS;Bilgrami AL;Perveen A;Husain A;Tarique M;Hafeez A;Alexiou A;Ahmad A;Kumar R;Banu N;Najda A;Sayed AA;Albadrani GM;Abdel-Daim MM;Peluso I;Barreto GE; (2021) Dissecting Sex-Related Cognition between Alzheimer's Disease and Diabetes: From Molecular Mechanisms to Potential Therapeutic Strategies.. Oxidative Medicine And Cellular Longevity

2019

Antitumor effects of curcumin: A lipid perspective

Mehri Bemani Naeini;Amir Abbas Momtazi;Mahmoud Reza Jaafari;Thomas P. Johnston;George Barreto;Maciej Banach;Amirhossein Sahebkar; (2019) Antitumor effects of curcumin: A lipid perspective. Journal Of Cellular Physiology

2019

Novel computational deep learning strategy for neuroprotection identification reveals unique set of nicotine analogs as potential therapeutic compounds against Parkinson’s disease

Felipe Rojas-Rodríguez;Carlos Morantes;Andrés Pinzón;George E. Barreto;Ricardo Cabezas;Leonardo Mariño;Janneth González; (2019) Novel computational deep learning strategy for neuroprotection identification reveals unique set of nicotine analogs as potential therapeutic compounds against Parkinson’s disease.

2019

The Synergistic Effect of Raloxifene, Fluoxetine, and Bromocriptine Protects Against Pilocarpine-Induced Status Epilepticus and Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

Pottoo, F. H.,Tabassum, N.,Javed, M. N.,Nigar, S.,Rasheed, R.,Khan, A.,Barkat, M. A.,Alam, M. S.,Maqbool, A.,Ansari, M. A.,Barreto, G. E.,Ashraf, G. M. (2019) The Synergistic Effect of Raloxifene, Fluoxetine, and Bromocriptine Protects Against Pilocarpine-Induced Status Epilepticus and Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. Molecular Neurobiology :1233-1247

2019

Copper and Neurotoxicity in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Santos G, Borges JMP, Avila-Rodriguez M, Gaíno SB, Barreto GE, Rúbio EP, Aguiar RM, Galembeck E, Bromochenkel CB, de Oliveira DM. (2019) Copper and Neurotoxicity in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Current Pharmaceutical Design

2018

Urotensin II: Molecular Mechanisms of Biological Activity

Svistunov, A. A.,Tarasov, V. V.,Shakhmardanova, S. A.,Sologova, S. S.,Bagaturiya, E. T.,Chubarev, V. N.,Galenko-Yaroshevsky, P. A.,Avila-Rodriguez, M. F.,Barreto, G. E.,Aliev, G. (2018) Urotensin II: Molecular Mechanisms of Biological Activity. Curr Protein Pept Scicurr Protein Pept Sci :924-934

2018

Mitochondrial Neuroglobin Is Necessary for Protection Induced by Conditioned Medium from Human Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Astrocytic Cells Subjected to Scratch and Metabolic Injury

Baez-Jurado, E.,Guio-Vega, G.,Hidalgo-Lanussa, O.,Gonzalez, J.,Echeverria, V.,Ashraf, G. M.,Sahebkar, A.,Barreto, G. E. (2018) Mitochondrial Neuroglobin Is Necessary for Protection Induced by Conditioned Medium from Human Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Astrocytic Cells Subjected to Scratch and Metabolic Injury. Mol Neurobiolmol Neurobiol

2018

Inhibiting Effect of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on Advanced Glycation Products and Oxidative Modifications: a Potential Tool to Counteract Oxidative Stress in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Ashraf, J. M.,Ansari, M. A.,Fatma, S.,Abdullah, S. M. S.,Iqbal, J.,Madkhali, A.,Hamali, A. H.,Ahmad, S.,Jerah, A.,Echeverria, V.,Barreto, G. E.,Ashraf, G. M. (2018) Inhibiting Effect of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on Advanced Glycation Products and Oxidative Modifications: a Potential Tool to Counteract Oxidative Stress in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Mol Neurobiolmol Neurobiol :7438-7452

2018

Correction to: Intranasal Cotinine Plus Krill Oil Facilitates Fear Extinction, Decreases Depressive-Like Behavior, and Increases Hippocampal Calcineurin A Levels in Mice

Alvarez-Ricartes, N.,Oliveros-Matus, P.,Mendoza, C.,Perez-Urrutia, N.,Echeverria, F.,Iarkov, A.,Barreto, G. E.,Echeverria, V. (2018) Correction to: Intranasal Cotinine Plus Krill Oil Facilitates Fear Extinction, Decreases Depressive-Like Behavior, and Increases Hippocampal Calcineurin A Levels in Mice. Mol Neurobiolmol Neurobiol :7961-

2018

Chemosensitizing Activity of Histone Deacetylases Inhibitory Cyclic Hydroxamic Acids for Combination Chemotherapy of Lymphatic Leukemia

Mishchenko, D. V.,Neganova, M. E.,Klimanova, E. N.,Sashenkova, T. E.,Klochkov, S. G.,Shevtsova, E. F.,Vystorop, I. V.,Tarasov, V. V.,Chubarev, V. N.,Samsonova, A. N.,Ashraf, G. M.,Barreto, G.,Yarla, N. S.,Aliev, G. (2018) Chemosensitizing Activity of Histone Deacetylases Inhibitory Cyclic Hydroxamic Acids for Combination Chemotherapy of Lymphatic Leukemia. Curr Cancer Drug Targetscurr Cancer Drug Targets :365-371

2017

Gliomas: New Perspectives in Diagnosis, Treatment and Prognosis

Ghotme, K. A.,Barreto, G. E.,Echeverria, V.,Gonzalez, J.,Bustos, R. H.,Sanchez, M.,Leszek, J.,Yarla, N. S.,Gomez, R. M.,Tarasov, V. V.,Ashraf, G. M.,Aliev, G. (2017) Gliomas: New Perspectives in Diagnosis, Treatment and Prognosis. Curr Top Med Chemcurr Top Med Chem :1438-1447

2017

Securinine Derivatives as Potential Anti-amyloid Therapeutic Approach

Neganova, M. E.,Klochkov, S. G.,Petrova, L. N.,Shevtsova, E. F.,Afanasieva, S. V.,Chudinova, E. S.,Fisenko, V. P.,Bachurin, S. O.,Barreto, G. E.,Aliev, G. (2017) Securinine Derivatives as Potential Anti-amyloid Therapeutic Approach. Cns Neurol Disord Drug Targetscns Neurol Disord Drug Targets :351-355

2017

Nanotechnology in Neurosciences: An Approach

Bustos Cruz, R. H.,Sanchez, M. M.,Dominguez-Sanchez, M. A.,Barreto, G. E.,Lancheros, D.,Reynolds, J. (2017) Nanotechnology in Neurosciences: An Approach. Curr Pharm Descurr Pharm Des :4154-4169

2017

Novel conjugates of aminoadamantanes with carbazole derivatives as potential multitarget agents for AD treatment

Bachurin, S. O.,Shevtsova, E. F.,Makhaeva, G. F.,Grigoriev, V. V.,Boltneva, N. P.,Kovaleva, N. V.,Lushchekina, S. V.,Shevtsov, P. N.,Neganova, M. E.,Redkozubova, O. M.,Bovina, E. V.,Gabrelyan, A. V.,Fisenko, V. P.,Sokolov, V. B.,Aksinenko, A. Y.,Echeverria, V.,Barreto, G. E.,Aliev, G. (2017) Novel conjugates of aminoadamantanes with carbazole derivatives as potential multitarget agents for AD treatment. Sci Repsci Rep :45627-

2017

L-Type Calcium Channels Modulation by Estradiol

Vega-Vela, N. E.,Osorio, D.,Avila-Rodriguez, M.,Gonzalez, J.,Garcia-Segura, L. M.,Echeverria, V.,Barreto, G. E. (2017) L-Type Calcium Channels Modulation by Estradiol. Mol Neurobiolmol Neurobiol :4996-5007

2017

Anthocyanins: Multi-Target Agents for Prevention and Therapy of Chronic Diseases

Putta, S.,Yarla, N. S.,Peluso, I.,Tiwari, D. K.,Reddy, G. V.,Giri, P. V.,Kumar, N.,Malla, R.,Rachel, V.,Bramhachari, P. V.,Reddy, D. Rs,Bade, R.,Mannarapu, M.,Barreto, G. E.,Lu, D. Y.,Tarasov, V. V.,Chubarev, V. N.,Ribeiro, F. F.,Scotti, L.,Scotti, M. T.,Kamal, M. A.,Ashraf, G. M.,Aliev, G.,Perry, G.,Sarker, S. D.,Rao, C. V.,Bishayee, A. (2017) Anthocyanins: Multi-Target Agents for Prevention and Therapy of Chronic Diseases. Curr Pharm Descurr Pharm Des :6321-6346

2017

Nanotechnology for Alzheimer Disease

Leszek, J.,Md Ashraf, G.,Tse, W. H.,Zhang, J.,Gasiorowski, K.,Avila-Rodriguez, M. F.,Tarasov, V. V.,Barreto, G. E.,Klochkov, S. G.,Bachurin, S. O.,Aliev, G. (2017) Nanotechnology for Alzheimer Disease. Curr Alzheimer Rescurr Alzheimer Res :1182-1189

2017

Diabetes Mellitus and Male Aging: Pharmacotherapeutics and Clinical Implications

Putta, S.,Peluso, I.,Yarla, N. S.,Kilari, E. K.,Bishayee, A.,Lu, D. Y.,Barreto, G. E.,Ashraf, G. M.,Scotti, L.,Scotti, M. T.,Singla, R. K.,Alexiou, T.,Atanasov, A. G.,Tarasov, V. V.,Bramhachari, P. V.,Imandi, S. B.,Chintala, M.,Sharma, B.,Reale, M.,Filosa, R.,Aliev, G.,Kamal, M. A. (2017) Diabetes Mellitus and Male Aging: Pharmacotherapeutics and Clinical Implications. Curr Pharm Descurr Pharm Des :4475-4483

2016

Meta-analysis of Telomere Length in Alzheimer's Disease

Forero, D. A.,Gonzalez-Giraldo, Y.,Lopez-Quintero, C.,Castro-Vega, L. J.,Barreto, G. E.,Perry, G. (2016) Meta-analysis of Telomere Length in Alzheimer's Disease. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Scij Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci :1069-73

2015

Editorial on Cerebral endothelial and glial cells are more than bricks in the Great Wall of the brain: insights into the way the blood-brain barrier actually works (celebrating the centenary of Goldman's experiments)

Garcia-Martin, E.,Barreto, G. E.,Agundez, J. A.,Guedes, R. C.,El-Bacha, R. S. (2015) Editorial on Cerebral endothelial and glial cells are more than bricks in the Great Wall of the brain: insights into the way the blood-brain barrier actually works (celebrating the centenary of Goldman's experiments). Front Cell Neuroscifront Cell Neurosci :128-

2015

Conjugates of gamma-Carbolines and Phenothiazine as new selective inhibitors of butyrylcholinesterase and blockers of NMDA receptors for Alzheimer Disease

Makhaeva, G. F.,Lushchekina, S. V.,Boltneva, N. P.,Sokolov, V. B.,Grigoriev, V. V.,Serebryakova, O. G.,Vikhareva, E. A.,Aksinenko, A. Y.,Barreto, G. E.,Aliev, G.,Bachurin, S. O. (2015) Conjugates of gamma-Carbolines and Phenothiazine as new selective inhibitors of butyrylcholinesterase and blockers of NMDA receptors for Alzheimer Disease. Sci Repsci Rep :13164-

2014

Tibolone protects T98G cells from glucose deprivation

Avila Rodriguez, M.,Garcia-Segura, L. M.,Cabezas, R.,Torrente, D.,Capani, F.,Gonzalez, J.,Barreto, G. E. (2014) Tibolone protects T98G cells from glucose deprivation. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biolj Steroid Biochem Mol Biol :294-303

2013

Relationship between quality of sleep and cognitive function in patients with parkinson's disease,Relação entre qualidade do sono e funções cognitivas em pacientes com doença de parkinson

Dos Santos, A.B.;Campos, S.L.;Ribeiro, S.;Morales, L.;Gonzalez, J.;Dos Santos Trindade, J.;Barreto, G.E.; (2013) Relationship between quality of sleep and cognitive function in patients with parkinson's disease,Relação entre qualidade do sono e funções cognitivas em pacientes com doença de parkinson. Universitas Scientiarum

2012

Protein LIC10494 of Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni: Structural model and associated functional regions,Proteína LIC10494 de Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni: Modelo estructural y regiones funcionales asociadas

Barreto, L.V.;Barreto, G.E.;Morales, L.;Acevedo, O.E.;Santos, J.G.; (2012) Protein LIC10494 of Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni: Structural model and associated functional regions,Proteína LIC10494 de Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni: Modelo estructural y regiones funcionales asociadas. Universitas Scientiarum

2012

Effects of perinatal asphyxia on rat striatal cytoskeleton

Saraceno, G.E.;Ayala, M.V.;Badorrey, M.S.;Holubiec, M.;Romero, J.I.;Galeano, P.;Barreto, G.;Giraldez-Alvárez, L.D.;Kölliker-fres, R.;Coirini, H.;Capani, F.; (2012) Effects of perinatal asphyxia on rat striatal cytoskeleton. Synapse

Books

2014

Natural Antioxidants in Dementia: An Overview

Cabezas, R.;Fidel Avila, M.;Torrente, D.;Gonzalez, J.;Santos El-Bachá, R.;Guedes, R.;Barreto, G.E.; (2014) Natural Antioxidants in Dementia: An Overview. Diet and Nutrition in Dementia and Cognitive Decline

Book Chapters

2019

Mitochondrial KATP Channel and Dopaminergic Vulnerability Neurons in Parkinson's Disease

Gesivaldo Santos, Julita Maria Pereira Borges, Marcos Avilla-Rodriguez, Érika Pereira Rubio, Cattiúscia Batista Bromochenkel, Djalma Menezes Oliveira, Jane Lima dos Santos, Rosane Moura Aguiar, Milena Mascarenhas Ferraz, Silvana Batista Gaino, Francisco Capani and George E Barreto (2019) Mitochondrial KATP Channel and Dopaminergic Vulnerability Neurons in Parkinson's Disease. Croatia : IntechOpen Parkinson's Disease and Beyond - A Neurocognitive Approach

2014

Natural antioxidants in dementia: an overview

Ricardo Cabezas, Marco Fidel Avila, Daniel Torrente, Janneth Gonzalez, Ramon Santos El-Bacha, Rubem Guedes, George E. Barreto (2014) Natural antioxidants in dementia: an overview. Ireland : Academic Press (Elsevier) Diet and Nutrition in Dementia and cognitive decline series book

Edited Books

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