About
Transforming Brain Health
Unlocking the Power of microRNAs to Combat Aging and Addiction
The Mavrikaki Lab focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying brain aging and opioid use disorder (OUD) through the identification of relevant microRNAs (miRNAs). We aim to uncover specific miRNAs that mediate brain aging processes and explore their potential as therapeutic targets to delay or reverse cognitive decline. In parallel, we are exploring miRNA alterations throughout the addiction cycle in order to uncover pathways involved in OUD progression. By leveraging advanced molecular techniques, we strive to provide critical insights to guide the development of miRNA-based interventions for brain health and addiction therapies.
Research Area
Brain Aging
Here is where you can talk about the variety of research subjects, topics, disciplines, sub-disciplines and themes that interest you. This section can include the work or research that you are already in the process of doing, or it can be aspirational: the type of research you would like to do in the future. The more content you include in this section, and the more specific your keywords, the more you will be associated with these keywords in an OpenScholar global search--which is great for finding research collaboration opportunities.
- Velit laboriosam minima so doloremque in and in. Ipsum fugiat. Omnis ab but qui and iste so sunt eu. Duis autem and beatae quam and iure iste. Culpa doloremque but velitesse.
- Velit laboriosam minima so doloremque in and in. Ipsum fugiat. Omnis ab but qui and iste so sunt eu. Duis autem and beatae quam and iure iste.
- Velit laboriosam minima so doloremque in and in. Ipsum fugiat. Omnis ab but qui and iste so sunt eu
- Velit laboriosam minima so doloremque in and in. Ipsum fugiat.
- Velit laboriosam minima so doloremque in and in. Ipsum fugiat. Duis autem and beatae quam and iure iste.
- Velit laboriosam minima so doloremque in and in.
Explore our Research Topics
Molecular mechanisms of brain aging
Our previous research has shown that severe COVID-19 induces transcriptomic signatures in the human brain that resemble accelerated brain aging (Mavrikaki et al., 2022; Nature Aging). Funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), we are leveraging COVID-19 as a model of accelerated brain aging to uncover the molecular mechanisms driving both natural brain aging and COVID-19-induced accelerated aging. The ultimate goal of our research is to identify molecular targets to prevent, delay, or potentially reverse brain aging.
Neurobiological mechanisms of opioid addiction
The ongoing opioid epidemic has triggered our interest to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying opioid use disorder (OUD). Using rodent models of drug self-administration and advanced molecular biology techniques, we aim to uncover the neurobiological processes driving OUD. Our ultimate goal is to identify molecular targets to develop effective therapeutics and contribute to combating the opioid crisis.