Marie-Françoise J. Doursout

Dr. Marie-Françoise J. Doursout is a Professor in the Department of Pharmacology at McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. With over three decades of research experience since earning her PhD in Pharmacology with honors in 1986, she maintains an active research program focusing on neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular function, and immune modulation.

Dr. Doursout received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Ecole Superieure des Techniques de Biologie Appliquees in 1978 and completed her doctoral studies at Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes. Her research program demonstrates remarkable interdisciplinary integration across pharmacology, neuroscience, and immunology, with particular emphasis on developing interventions for neurodegenerative conditions and stress-related pathologies.

Her research interests include neuroprotection mechanisms, dietary interventions for neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular pharmacology, immune response modulation, and stress physiology. Dr. Doursout has pioneered investigations into compounds like Enzyme-Treated Asparagus Extract (ETAS) and Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC) for their therapeutic potential in neurological and inflammatory conditions.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on neurodegeneration models, particularly Alzheimer's disease using APP-overexpressed mice, and the investigation of dietary compounds for neuroprotection. Her work bridges basic pharmacological mechanisms with translational applications, examining how natural compounds can modulate inflammatory pathways, enhance immune function, and protect against neurodegenerative processes.

Dr. Doursout has successfully secured significant research funding as Principal Investigator for projects totaling over $186,000, including grants from Amino Up (Japan) and the Cardiovascular Research Alliance. She also serves as Co-Investigator on multiple NIH RO1 grants totaling millions of dollars, contributing her expertise to projects investigating neurodegenerative diseases, vascular dysfunction, and polymer effects on oxygen delivery. Her grant portfolio demonstrates her ability to secure both industry and federal funding across multiple research domains.

Her laboratory work integrates advanced techniques including fluorescence deconvolution microscopy, thromboelastography, and animal models of disease to investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative conditions and cardiovascular pathologies. Dr. Doursout's research team collaborates extensively across institutions, working with researchers from Rice University and international partners in Japan.