Maria F. Braga

Maria F. Braga, D.D.S., Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) School of Medicine, Bethesda, MD. Her primary research focuses on neuronal mechanisms within the amygdala relevant to anxiety disorders, epilepsy, and traumatic brain injury.

Education:

• D.D.S. from Federal University of Alagoas, Brazil
• Ph.D. in Physiology and Pharmacology from University of Strathclyde, Scotland, UK
• Postdoctoral Fellowship at University of Maryland School of Medicine, USA

Dr. Braga's research centers on amygdala function, investigating how GABAergic and glutamatergic systems regulate neuronal excitability in emotional disorders and epilepsy. Her laboratory employs electrophysiological techniques (patch-clamp, field potential recordings) and molecular methods to study synaptic transmission in normal and pathological states. Key discoveries include identifying GluR5 kainate receptors as critical regulators of amygdala excitability and demonstrating that reduced GABAergic inhibition underlies anxiety after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Her work on nerve agent countermeasures revealed Tezampanel's efficacy against soman-induced seizures, leading to an $89.5 million BARDA contract for advanced development.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals consistent focus on amygdala pathophysiology across three major research thrusts: (1) anxiety disorder mechanisms involving ASIC1a channels and GABA/glutamate balance, (2) mTBI-induced GABAergic deficits linking to delayed anxiety symptoms, and (3) nerve agent countermeasures targeting kainate receptors. The interdisciplinary nature spans molecular neuroscience, electrophysiology, and translational pharmacology with strong military medical relevance.

Major Recognition:

• BARDA $89.5 million contract (2018) for Tezampanel development against nerve agent-induced seizures
• Society for Neuroscience press coverage of amygdala acidity research (2014)
• Extensive NIH/NINDS funding for epilepsy and TBI research

Dr. Braga leads the USUHS-NIMH Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine consortium studying mTBI mechanisms. Her laboratory has trained numerous neuroscience graduate students who co-authored key publications. Current research focuses on developing GluR5 kainate receptor antagonists as antiepileptogenic treatments and establishing causal links between initial brain insults and long-term neuronal dysfunction. The team maintains active collaborations with NIMH and military medical research units to translate basic findings into clinical applications for service members.