Ruben K. Dagda

Ruben K. Dagda, Ph.D., serves as Associate Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Nevada School of Medicine, where his research centers on mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in Parkinson's disease models. With 68+ publications spanning toxicology, neurobiology, and mitochondrial function, he directs a laboratory investigating prosurvival signaling pathways critical for neuronal mitochondrial regulation.

His academic foundation includes:

• B.S. in Biology from University of Texas at El Paso
• M.S. in Biology from University of Texas at El Paso
• Ph.D. in Pharmacology from University of Iowa School of Medicine

Dr. Dagda's work systematically dissects how aging and neurodegenerative pathologies disrupt mitochondrial transport, turnover, and bioenergetics in neurons. His team employs advanced models—from cell cultures to PINK1 knockout rats—to identify therapeutic targets, with particular focus on BDNF-TrkB signaling, PINK1/PKA interactions, and mitochondrial quality control mechanisms. Current efforts prioritize developing small-molecule interventions to reverse neurodegeneration through mitochondrial enhancement.

Analysis of his 2022-2025 publications reveals dominant themes in Parkinson's disease therapeutics: intranasal drug delivery of nootropics/forskolin for dopamine neuron protection, BDNF-mediated mitochondrial remodeling in dendrites, and nanodisk-based cardioprotective strategies against toxin-induced dysfunction. His methodology integrates Seahorse XF bioenergetic profiling with neuronal morphology analysis to establish mitochondrial dysfunction as a central therapeutic target.

Dr. Dagda's mentoring record demonstrates significant educational impact:

• 30+ undergraduate researchers trained
• 5 Ph.D. graduates mentored (primary/secondary)
• 3 postdoctoral scholars supervised

His laboratory operates at the University of Nevada School of Medicine with specialized capabilities in mitochondrial bioenergetics assessment, neurotoxicology models, and translational drug testing. The team actively investigates gut-microbiota-brain axis interactions in neuroimmune disease while developing novel pharmacological approaches to correct mitochondrial defects in age-related neurodegeneration.