Maged M. Harraz

Maged M. Harraz is an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Pharmacology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. His research focuses on the interplay between protein homeostasis and signal transduction, with applications in neuroscience drug discovery. The Harraz Lab investigates novel autophagy pathways targeting membrane proteins and their roles in neurodegeneration, virus-host interactions (e.g., SARS-CoV-2), and addiction.

Dr. Harraz holds an MB,BCh from Suez Canal University, a Master's in Histology/Genetics, and a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. He completed postdoctoral training at Johns Hopkins University under Ted Dawson, Valina Dawson, and Solomon Snyder, studying epigenetics, nitric oxide signaling, and neurodegeneration.

His research interests include cocaine's mechanisms of action via autophagy and dopamine transporter regulation, identifying BASP1 as a high-affinity cocaine receptor, and exploring ketamine's antidepressant effects through mTOR pathways. The lab employs CRISPR/Cas9 mutant mice to study membrane protein targeting and neurotoxicity.

Recent publications highlight discoveries in cocaine pharmacology, autophagy-driven behavior, and neuroprotective microRNA mechanisms. The lab is actively expanding studies on SARS-CoV-2 entry mechanisms and drug development for neurodegenerative diseases.

Dr. Harraz leads a collaborative team at the MSTF 956 lab, hiring researchers across academic levels. The lab is committed to translating proteostasis research into clinical applications for mental health and neurodegenerative disorders.