Darlene A. Mitrano

Darlene A. Mitrano serves as a Professor in the Department of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Science at Christopher Newport University, where she is integral to the Neuroscience Program. Her academic office is located in Forbes Hall 3008, and she maintains active research and teaching responsibilities.

Her educational foundation includes:

• Ph.D. in Pharmacology, Emory University
• B.S. in Psychology, Washington and Lee University

Professor Mitrano's research program investigates neuroanatomical and molecular mechanisms underlying psychological and neurological disorders, with concentrated expertise in Alzheimer's disease pathology and drug addiction neurobiology. She employs transgenic animal models to analyze structural brain changes, receptor systems, and behavioral outcomes, particularly focusing on olfactory dysfunction in Alzheimer's models and noradrenergic-dopaminergic interactions in reward pathways.

Her publication record demonstrates sustained investigation into Alzheimer's disease progression using the 3xTg-AD model and neuropharmacological aspects of addiction. Key research threads include receptor localization in reward circuitry (notably α1-adrenergic and D1-dopamine receptors), exploration of methylene blue as a therapeutic agent, and innovative science education approaches examining historical neuroanatomy discoveries.

She has secured competitive funding from the National Institutes of Health for her project 'Norepinephrine-dopamine interactions underlying arousal' and collaborated on instrumentation grants including the Shimadzu LCMS 9030 acquisition. Professor Mitrano maintains an active mentorship role, regularly co-authoring Society for Neuroscience presentations with undergraduate researchers on topics ranging from 22q11.2 behavioral models to subcellular receptor localization.

Her work operates within Christopher Newport University's Neuroscience Program infrastructure, where she collaborates with interdisciplinary colleagues to advance understanding of neurodegenerative mechanisms and addiction neurobiology through integrated molecular, anatomical, and behavioral approaches.