Dr. Andreasson is currently an Associate Professor in Stanford University. She is interested in understanding the basic mechanisms by which neurons die in stroke and in neurodegenerative disease, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Her focus is on the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) pathway, which has been found to play a critical role in promoting neuronal death in a number of models of neurological disease, including stroke, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Alzheimer’s disease. She is examining the function of downstream prostaglandin receptor signaling pathways, focusing on the functions of prostaglandin receptors in glutamate toxicity, ischemia, and neuroinflammation. Using a combination of in vitro and in vivo genetic and pharmacological strategies, she is finding that specific prostaglandin receptor signaling pathways impact dramatically on disease progression in models of both acute and chronic neurodegeneration. The long-term goal of her research is to understand the contribution of prostaglandin signaling to neuronal injury in a wide array of neurological diseases and to develop therapeutic strategies targeting these pathways in human disease. 

　　Honors and Awards 

• 　　Pfizer/AFAR Innovations in Aging Research Award, American Federation for Aging Research (07/05) 
• 　　Paul Beeson Physician Faculty Scholars in Aging Award, American Federation for Aging Research (07/2001) 

　　Representative Publications: 

　　1. Pradhan, S. and Andreasson, K., (2013) Commentary: Progressive inflammation as a contributing factor to early development of Parkinson’s disease. Experimental Neurology. 241: 148-155 

　　2. Shi, J., Wang, Q., Johansson, J., Liang, X., Woodling, N.S., Priyam, P., Louis, T.M., Merchant, M., Breyer, R.M., Montine, T.J., and Andreasson, K., (2012) Inflammatory prostaglandin E₂ signaling in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. Annals of Neurology. Nov;72(5):788-98 

　　3. Liang, X., Lin, L, Wang, Q, Woodling^, N.S., Anacker, C., Pan, T., Merchant, M., and Andreasson, K., (2011) Neuronal and vascular protection by the prostaglandin E₂ EP4 receptor in a mouse model of cerebral ischemia. Journal of Clinical Investigation. Nov;121(11):4362-71 

　　4. Grabrucker, A. M., Schmeisser, M.J., Udvardi,, P.T., Rowan, M., Schoen, M., Woodling, N.S., Hof, P.R., Buxbaum, J.D., Andreasson, K.I., Garner, C. C.,  and Boeckers, T.M., (2011) Amyloid beta protein-induced zinc sequestration leads to a dysregulation of the postsynaptic ProSAP2/Shank3 scaffold. Molecular Neurodegeneration. Sep 22;6:65 

　　5. Shi, J., Johansson, J., Woodling, N.S., Wang, Q., Montine, T.M., and Andreasson, K., (2010) The prostaglandin E₂ EP4 receptor exerts anti-inflammatory effects in brain innate immunity. Journal of Immunology. 184:7207-18 

　　6. Melnikova, T, Savonenko, A., Wang, Q., Liang, X, Hand, T., Wu, L, Vehmas, A, and Andreasson, K., (2006) COX-2 activity promotes cognitive deficits in a model of Alzheimer's disease in a gender-dimorphic pattern.Neuroscience.141:1149-62 

　　7. Vidensky, S., Zhang, Y, Hand, T., Goellner, J., Shaffer, A., Isakson, P., Andreasson, K., (2003) Neuronal overexpression of COX-2 results in dominant production of PGE₂ and altered fever response.Neuromolecular Medicine. 3: 15-27