Martin Darvas, PhD

Clinical and Research Background

Dr. Darvas is an Assistant Professor of Pathology at the University of Washington. His expertise is in neuroscience, neurodegenerative diseases, molecular biology, and animal models of disease (Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease).

Dr. Darvas received his undergraduate education at the University of Bonn, Germany (Diploma in Biology), and received his PhD at the University of Bonn in 2007, where his work in the laboratory of Dr. Andreas Zimmer resulted in the discovery of a new neuromodulator of neuronal acetylcholine signaling: LYPD6. Dr. Darvas then pursued post-doctoral studies of brain dopamine systems with Dr. Richard Palmiter at the University of Washington.Dr. Darvas’s primary research goal is to identify critical brain circuits and signaling pathways that will uncover new therapeutic targets that lead to improved treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. His secondary goal is to develop quantitative molecular neuropathology methods to improve understanding of pathologic changes in clinical samples.

To achieve these goals Dr. Darvas’s current research focuses on: (1) understanding brain circuits as well as structural and molecular bases of learning and memory (with an emphasis on cognitive impairment that occurs with neurodegenerative diseases), (2) studying mouse brains in aging and Alzheimer’s disease models to determine whether pharmacological therapeutics aimed at preventing or reversing the decline in mitochondrial function during aging will be effective in preventing or reversing dementia and pathologic processes associated with progressive Alzheimer’s disease, and (3) development of multiplexed Luminex assays for Alzheimer’s disease pathologic changes in formalin-fixed brain autopsy tissue. His laboratory addresses these important and prevalent medical problems through (1) a combination of mouse genetics, virus-mediated gene transfer, pharmacology and in vivo behavior testing, and (2) work with clinical brain autopsy samples in close collaboration with UW Neuropathology.

Teaching

Dr. Darvas enjoys teaching and training opportunities through diverse teaching commitments, including “NBIO 499 B - INDIV RES NEUROBIOL” and the UW Graduate School course “PATH513: Molecular Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration”.