Andrey Tsvetkov

Andrey Tsvetkov is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neurology at McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). Born in Kazakhstan, he received his Master's Degree in molecular biology from Moscow State University and his PhD in physiology and biophysics from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He completed postdoctoral training with Steven Finkbeiner at the University of California, San Francisco, Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease.

His research focuses on brain aging mechanisms, particularly investigating G-quadruplex DNA/RNA structures, autophagy processes, and sphingosine kinase signaling pathways. His laboratory provides a vibrant research environment for interdisciplinary interactions with colleagues across multiple institutions, including the University of Texas Health Science Center, MD Anderson Cancer Center, and other University of Texas institutions.

Dr. Tsvetkov's publication record demonstrates significant contributions to understanding the molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration. His recent work examines the relationship between G-quadruplex structures and cellular senescence, sphingosine kinase regulation of protein networks in neurons, and sex differences in lipid metabolism related to cognitive impairment.

• Funded by the National Institutes of Health (NINDS and NIA)
• Active contributor to consensus guidelines for autophagy research
• Interdisciplinary collaborations across multiple UT institutions

His research has important implications for understanding and potentially treating neurodegenerative diseases including Huntington's disease and Alzheimer's disease, with particular attention to how nucleic acid structures and lipid metabolism contribute to brain aging processes.