Elena V Batrakova, Ph.D.
RESEARCH ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
batrakov@email.unc.edu
The main focus of Batrakova’s research is to develop a CNS delivery system for antioxidants and neuronal growth factors to attenuate neuroinflammation and produce neuroprotection in patients with neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. For this purpose, her group utilizes inflammatory-response cells, macrophages and monocytes that can migrate toward the inflammation site, cross the blood brain barrier, and release the preloaded drugs in the brain. To protect the therapeutic proteins against the degradation inside the host cells, the drug is incorporated in polymer-based nanocontainer. Thus, living cells can act as Trojan horses, delivering potent therapeutics across the blood brain barrier.
Research
- Development of cell-mediated drug delivery systems to attenuate neuroinflammation and produce neuroprotection in patients with PD (Parkinson’s Disease).
- Development of polymer-based drug delivery systems for the chemotherapy and central nervous system disorders
- Functional studies of the blood-brain barrier and CNS drug transport
- Inhibition of drug efflux transporters, including p-glycoprotein, multidrug resistance-associated protein, and breast cancer resistant protein
- Development of exosomal-based drug delivery systems
- 1983: MS in chemistry from M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU) Moscow, Russia
- 1987: PhD in Polymer chemistry at the Department of Polymers, MSU
