Marco Antonio Maximo Prado is a Researcher at the Robarts Research Institute, affiliated with The University of Western Ontario. His work focuses on neuronal communication mechanisms in neurological and cardiovascular disorders. Dr. Prado holds a Pharmacy degree, MSc in Biochemistry, PhD in Biochemistry, and a Cell Biology Diploma from UFMG, McGill, and Duke Universities. His research explores cholinergic synapses in Alzheimer’s disease, prion diseases, and cardiac dysfunction, using molecular, cellular, and behavioral approaches. Notable awards include the John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship and Senior Research Fellow from Brazil’s National Research Council. His lab investigates novel pharmacological targets for neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases, emphasizing transmissible spongiform encephalopathies and cholinergic modulation. Recent projects include studies on exercise-induced cholinergic effects on emphysema and the role of prion proteins in Alzheimer’s pathology. Education: Pharmacy (UFMG); MSc Biochemistry (UFMG); PhD Biochemistry (McGill University); Diploma Cell Biology (Duke University). Training at UFMG, McGill, and Duke. Awards: Guggenheim Fellowship (2005), IBRO Fellow (2003), and others. Research interests span neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular physiology, and translational medicine. Publications include work on cholinergic signaling in the heart, cholinergic deficiency in renal fibrosis, and antinociceptive properties of spider venom. His lab collaborates across disciplines, integrating pharmacology, genetics, and behavioral studies. Current efforts focus on developing therapies targeting cholinergic pathways and prion protein mechanisms.













