Osvaldo Giorgi

Biography

Since 2002: Professor of First Phase of Pharmacology, University of Cagliari. 975: Laurea in Medicina summa cum laude , University of Buenos Aires (Laurea validated in 1985 at the University of Cagliari). 1976-1981: Member of the National Research Council (CONICET) at the Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacologicas , Buenos Aires, Argentina. 1981-1983: Visiting fellow - Laboratory of Preclinical Pharmacology , St. Elizabeth's Hospital , NIH, Washington DC, USA. 1985-1989: Professor of Biotechnology, University of Cagliari. 1990: University Researcher, SSD BIO 14 - Pharmacology, University of Cagliari. 1995-1996: Visiting Scientist - Laboratory of Neurophysiology, NINDS - NIH, Bethesda, MD - USA 1998: Associate Professor, SSD BIO 14 - Pharmacology, University of Cagliari.

Research Interest

The research activity of Prof. Osvaldo Giorgi is based on the study of the behavioral and neurochemical effects of psychotropic drugs in animal models of psychiatric disorders and the characterization of the neurochemical effects of such compounds using methods such as HPLC, cerebral microdialysis, enzymatic and binding assays of receptors and gene expression analysis by in situ hybridization. He is the author of more than 80 articles published in international journals for the study of the anxiolytic, antidepressant, antipsychotic and substance abuse drugs mediated by GABA, dopamine and serotonin. More recently he devoted himself to the study of the role played by genetic factors in the pathogenesis of major psychiatric disorders. In fact, for several years he has conducted behavioral and neurochemical studies in psychologically selected laboratory animals, Roman high-avoidance and Roman low-avoidance rats. The purpose of these studies, which are funded by public and private bodies, is the characterization of the role of genetic factors and epigenetic mechanisms in the pathogenesis of anxiety disorders, depression and drug addiction. In 2012 he started a new research line aimed at studying the effects of Roman high-avoidance and Roman low-avoidance sexual activity on neuronal plasticity processes.