Laszlo Prokai

Laszlo Prokai is a Professor at the University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC), affiliated with the Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience and the Institute for Healthy Aging. He also holds adjunct professorships at the University of Texas at Arlington and Texas Christian University. His research focuses on chemistry-driven multidisciplinary approaches, including the discovery of central nervous system agents, neuropeptides, proteomics, and mass spectrometry. He leads an NIH-funded program and collaborates with pharmaceutical companies. Prokai has received prestigious awards, including the 2017 Wilfred T. Doherty Award and the 2017 Southwest ACS Regional Award.

Education: PhD in Radiochemistry (University of Veszprem), MS in Chemistry, and BS in Chemical Engineering (both from University of Veszprem).

Research Interests: Neuroprotective strategies, estrogen therapies, prodrug design, and translational medicine targeting brain and retinal health. Projects include brain-selective estrogen prodrugs for menopausal hot flushes and neurodegenerative diseases.

Key Projects (selected):

• A Novel Neuroprotective Approach for Glaucoma (NIH NEI, 2023–2028)
• Brain-Selective Estrogen Therapy for Menopausal Hot Flushes (University of Maryland, 2021–2025)
• Impact of Brain Estrogens on Cognitive Function (University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2021–2025)

Grants and Collaborations: Over 47 sponsored projects, including NIH grants and industry partnerships. Active in developing prodrugs for targeted drug delivery.

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with the Institute for Healthy Aging and interdisciplinary teams in drug design and neuroprotection.