Mercio Perrin

Mercio Perrin is a Professor in the Department of Developmental, Molecular and Chemical Biology at Tufts University School of Medicine. His research focuses on the parasitic protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, causative agent of Chagas disease, with an emphasis on understanding how it manipulates host neurotrophic signaling pathways for invasion, survival, and potential therapeutic applications for neurodegenerative diseases. Dr. Perrin holds appointments in multiple departments including Medicine, Pathology, and Immunology, and has been affiliated with Tufts since 1980, advancing from Assistant Professor to his current rank.

Education: Earned his MD from Universidade Federal do Ceará (Brazil, 1969) and PhD from Columbia University (USA, 1978).

Research Interests: Explores T. cruzi's mechanisms of host cell invasion, particularly its neurotrophic mimicry (e.g., PDNF) that activates Trk receptors in neurons and glia. This research has led to drug development efforts targeting neurodegenerative conditions like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. His work also investigates parasite migration through endothelial barriers and cardiac tissue interactions.

Grants & Funding: Secured NIH grants including studies on T. cruzi transmigration mechanisms (2019-2021), cardiac cell entry inhibition (2014-2019), and neurotrophic factor mimicry (2013). Earlier grants addressed neuron survival pathways in Chagas disease (2000-2005).

Labs/Teams: Leads a laboratory focused on parasitic pathogenesis and neuroregenerative strategies, collaborating with immunology and biomedical science programs at Tufts. His work integrates virology, cell biology, and translational neuroscience approaches.