Rodrigo Schmidt, Ph.D.
Research Associate, Integrative Immunological Cardiovascular Research
Rodrigo Schmidt is a Research Associate with a broad background in Physiology and Cardiology, with more than ten years experience in collecting, registering and analyzing physical and biological signals on metabolic and cardiovascular diseases in both human and animal models. Dr. Schmidt is trained in the use of invasive and non-invasive techniques, such as, cannulation, telemetry probe implant, metabolic evaluation, drug infusion, sinoaortic denervation, nerve isolation surgery, nerve signal collection and myocardial infarction model surgery in rodents.
Dr. Schmidt's current research efforts is focused on using animal modeling to develop, evaluate and understand cardiovascular outcomes and new therapeutic alternatives for Gulf War illness.
- Gender and Gulf War Illness (08/15/2017 – 08/14/2020) The proposed studies will address the question of gender through novel mouse models of GWI. This proposal is based on the theoretical concept that proinflammatory agents/conditions, including stress, exacerbate the neuroinflammatory response to nerve agent exposure.
- Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone (GHRH) Antagonist: Evaluation of Beneficial Effects for Gulf War Illness (09/30/2017 – 09/29/2020) The objective of this project is to evaluate new therapeutic alternatives to alleviate Gulf War Illness based on the beneficial effects of highly biologically active analogs (antagonists) of GHRH.
- Understanding Gulf War Illness: An Integrative Modeling Approach (09/30/2013 – 09/29/2020)
The goal of the consortium is to develop a translational model of GWI, integrating animal and clinical research using a systems biology approach. The integrative approach will serve as a framework for correlating data between physiological compartments as well as between the mouse model and the human patients.
- A Neurotoxin Model: Effects on cardiovascular, autonomic and oxidative stress profile (2018 - 2020) The goal of this study was to test pharmacological agents - Enbrel (TNF-α inhibitor) and Mifepristone (glucocorticoid receptor antagonist) in addition to a chronic exercise paradigm in a Gulf War Illness (GWI) animal model.