Discovering

INDIVIDUAL RESEARCHER

Donald S. Higgins, Jr. , M.D.
Professor
e-mail: HigginD@mail.amc.edu

Education

1987 - M.D. from State University of New York at Stony Brook

Current Research

Accumulating evidence implicates disruption of energy metabolism in the pathogenesis of senescent decline in neuronal function and in certain neurodegenerative disorders. With substantial demands for high-energy intermediates, the nervous system is exceedingly sensitive to a reduced supply of ATP. Coincident metabolic dysfunction and altered excitatory glutamate signal transduction augment the likelihood of neuronal injury and degeneration. Utilizing histochemical, immunohistochemical and autoradiographic methods this laboratory is examining metabolic and glutamate receptor integrity during aging and in neurodegeneration. Studies in neurodegenerative disorders are focused on Huntington disease (HD), an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder characterized by involuntary movements, mood disturbance and dementia. Recently developed transgenic models of HD are being used to investigate metabolic and excitotoxic mechanisms of neuronal injury. Selective neuronal injury following the stereotaxic administration of metabolic toxins is being utilized to examine novel therapeutic compounds. A multidisciplinary HD clinic has been developed at the Albany Medical College. In addition to providing care for those with HD this clinic brings opportunities to participate in clinical research rapidly transitioning bench research into the clinic.

References

1. Higgins, DS, Chorea and it?s Disorders, Neurologic Clinics of North America, 19(3); 707-722, 2001



2. The Muscle Study Group, Randomized pilot trial of bINF1a (Avonex) in patients with inclusion body myositis, Neurol 57, 1566-1570, 2001



3. Talpade, DJ, Green, JG, Higgins, DS, Greenamyre, JT, In vivo labelling of mitochondrial complex I (NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase) in rat brain using [3H]dihydrorotenone, J Neurochem 75(6): 2611-2621, 2000



4. Hoyt, KR, McLaughlin, BA, Higgins, DS, Reynolds, IJ, Inhibition of glutamate-induced mitochondrial depolarization by tamoxifen in cultured neurons, JPET 293(2): 480-486, 2000