Brief Biography:
Born in Zagreb, then Jugoslavija, now Croatia. Studied in Zagreb and Milan (Italy) where I obtained a PhD in Physiology and Biophysics in 1982. My main research goal is the understanding of how the BBB controls neuronal function and in particular how the neuronal environment maintains bioelectric homeostasis. This was pursued by using voltage- and current-clamp of slices (1980's), isolated cells (90's), models of endothelial-glial interactions (late 90's) and finally the immune system and its role in BBB disruption.
As a side, I cultivated for years a deep interest in music and its effects on neuronal firing. This was studied in patients with deep brain electrodes or during epilepsy monitoring.
Academic positions:
1976-1982: Graduate student in the dept. of Physiology with Prof. DiFrancesco; voltage clamp investigation of pacemaker activity in the heart.
Ph.D. "maxima cum laude"; thesis title: "The pacemaker current in heart Purkinje fibers"
1982-1984: Project Leader at FIDIA Research Laboratories, Abano Terme, Italy.
histological and electrophysiological investigation of CNS neurons following trauma
and during recovery.
1983: Visiting Scientist at the Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm. Immuno-
cytochemistry and HPLC analysis of monoaminergic pathways after neurochemical lesions
1984-1987: Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Dept. of Neurosurgery, Univ. of Washington with P.A. Schwartzkroin; electrophysiology of the in vitro hippocampal slice: effects of anoxia
1987-1989: Research Associate in the Depts. of Pharmacology and Physiology at the University of Milan
1990-1995: Research Assistant Professor, Dept. of Neurosurgery, Univ. of Washington;
1993-1995: Research Assistant Professor (Adjunct), Dept. of Environmental Health, U of WA
1996-1999: Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery and Environmental Health, U of WA
1996-present: Adjunct (Contract) Professor of Physiology, University of Milan, Italy
1999-present: Full Staff, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH
1999-present: Director, Cerebrovascular Research, Dept. of Neurosurgery, Cleveland Clinic
1999-present: Affiliate Professor, Neurosurgery, University of Washington (Honorary title)
2002-present: Graduate Faculty, Kent State University, School of Biomedical Sciences
2003-present: Associate Staff, Brain Tumor Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation
2003-present: Professor of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
Research interests:
Blood-brain barrier
Sezure disorders
Serum markers of brain diseases
Neuronal control of inflammation, and vice versa
Effect of music on brain function
Any other information:
Founder of Flocel, Inc, a small biotech dealing with BBB models
Founder of the Antonio Janigro Foundation, devoted to the support of young cellists
Board member A. Janigro Competition (Zagreb, Croatia)
Organizer of Cello concertos in Cleveland and NE Ohio
What I think of the idea behind WebmedCentral:
I use it often because it allows to access many different types and sorts of information in a single web "space".
Home Page:
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/staff_directory/staff_display.aspx?doctorid=3148