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Pamela Saavedra, BS

Research Technician

Pam_Headshot.jpg

Education and Training:

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  • Undergraduate

    • BS, Johns Hopkins University

      • Cellular and Molecular Concentration

  • Graduate​​

    • MHS, Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health​

    • MD, University of Miami

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Previous Positions:

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  • Information Technology Manager: Neurology Intraoperative Monitoring (IOM) department, Johns Hopkins Hospital

  •  Undergraduate Research Assistant: Brain Tumor Stem Cell Laboratory, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

    • Dr. Alfredo Quiñones

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Research Interests:

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  • Gain-of-function mutations of the calcium-permeable, cell surface-expressed cation channel transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) and the forms of spinal muscular atrophy and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease associated with such mutations.

  • Disruptions of blood-neural barriers (BNBs) and the role they play in the pathogenesis of many chronic and acute neurodegenerative disorders.

  • Reversibility of neurological and BNB phenotypes with small molecule treatments in vivo and implications for future targeted opening and closing of the BNB for non-neurovascular permeable drug administration

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Current Projects:

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  • A novel knock-in mouse model of trpv4 channelopathy: elucidating in vivo effects of neuropathy-causing trpv4 mutations

  • Characterization of Blood Nerve Barrier integrity in a knock-in mouse model of a trpv4 channelopathy

  • To investigate whether TRPV4-mediated BNB deficits cause neuronal dysfunction and/or degeneration in vivo and determine reversibility with TRPV4 small molecule antagonism

  • Characterization of a humanized knock-in mouse model of a trpv4 channelopathy

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Selected Publications:

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  • "TRPV4 disrupts mitochondrial transport and causes axonal degeneration via a CaMKII-dependent elevation of intracellular Ca2+" (reference number: NCOMMS-19-35488-T), submitted.

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Contact:

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psaaved2@jhu.edu

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