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Giselle Petzinger

Dr. Giselle Petzinger, MD, is Assistant Professor of Neurology and Biokinesiology/ Physical Therapy at USC. As PI of the U.S. Army Neurotoxicology Research Program, Dr. Petzinger is investigating neuroplasticity and behavior recovery after Basal Ganglia lesion. With a history of funded research dating back to 1998 and a strong publication record, Dr. Petzinger has done numerous studies of Parkinson's and neurotoxicity, received the Doctor of Excellence award from the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation, and was a Fellow in Movement Disorders in the Department of Neurology at Columbia University.

Positions & Honors

Positions

2004-present Secondary Appointment, Assistant Professor, Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California
1999-present Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, Division for Movement Disorders, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California
1995-1999 Clinical Associate and Director of Experimental Therapeutics, The Parkinson's Institute, Sunnyvale, CA
1993-1995 Fellow in Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York
1992-1993 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Internal Medicine (Neuroscience), Yale University School of Medicine
1991-1993 Chief Resident of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine

Selected Honors & Awards

1993-1995 Doctor of Excellence, Dystonia Medical Research Foundation
1993-1995 State of New York Medical License
1993 Board Certified in Neurology and Psychiatry

Education

Columbia University Fellowship 1993-1995 Movement Disorders
Yale University, New Haven, CT Postdoc 1992 Neuroscience
Yale University, New Haven, CT Residency 1990-1992 Neurology
University of Southern California M.D. 1988 Medicine
University of California, Davis B.Sc. 1984 Biochemistry

Current Research Support

Clinical and Translational Science Institute Pilot Grant
July 2008 – June 2009
In vivo imaging of central changes in a Parkinson's disease model
The goal of this grant is to utilize the dopamine D2 specific ligand for PET imaging in the MPTP-lesioned mouse model of Parkinson’s disease undergoing intensive treadmill exercise to investigate changes in dopaminergic transmission and to complement these in vivo studies with in vitro molecular analyses. There is no overlap with this current proposal.
Role: PI

Team Parkinson and the Parkinson Alliance
July 2008-June 2009
Studies on the immune response in MPTP-lesioned mice and behavioral changes.
This grant is primarily focused on the purchase of new equipment for animal behavioral studies in the lab. An additional phase of this grant is to gather preliminary data to investigate alterations in the immune response and their behavioral consequences in the MPTP-lesioned mouse model. There is no overlap with the current proposal.
Role: PI

Selected Publications

  1. Vuckovic, M., R. I. Wood, D. P. Holschneider, A. Abernathy, D. M. Togasaki, G. M. Petzinger, and M. W. Jakowec (2008) Memory, Mood, Dopamine, and Serotonin in the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-Lesioned Mouse Model of Basal Ganglia Injury. Neurobiol Dis. 2008 Nov;32(2):319-27.
  2. Akopian, G., C. Crawford, M. F. Beal, M. Cappelletti, M. W. Jakowec, G. M. Petzinger, S. L. Gheorghe, R. Chow, J.P. Walsh (2008) Decreased striatal dopamine release underlies increased expression of long-term synaptic potentiation at corticostriatal synapses 24 hours after 3-nitropropionic acid induced chemical hypoxia. Journal of Neuroscience 28(38) 9585-9597.
  3. Wirdefeldt K., M. Gatz, S. L. Bakaysa, A. Fiske, M. Flensburg, G. M. Petzinger, H. Widner, M. F. Lew, M. Welsh, and N. L. Pedersen (2008) Complete ascertainment of Parkinson disease in the Swedish Twin Registry. Neurobiol Aging. 2008 Dec;29(12):1765-73.
  4. Wu, A. D., G. M. Petzinger, C. H. Lin, M. Kung, and B. Fisher (2007) Asymmetric corticomotor excitability correlations in early Parkinson's disease. Mov Disord. 2007 Aug 15;22(11):1587-93.
  5. Fisher, B. E., A. Wu, G. Salem, J. Song, J. Lin, M. Jakowec, J. Yip, J. Gordon, and G. Petzinger. (2008) The effects of exercise training in improving motor performance and cortico-motor excitability in individuals with early Parkinson’s disease. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 89(7) 1221-1229.
  6. The Parkinson Study Group (2007) Pramipexole in levodopa-treated Parkinson disease patients of African, Asian, and Hispanic heritage. Clinical Neuropharmacology 30 (2) 72-85.
  7. Petzinger, G. M., D. Togasaki, J. P. Walsh, G. Akopian, and M. W. Jakowec (2007) The nonhuman primate model of Parkinson’s disease and experimental therapeutics. In: Parkinson’s disease: Pathogenic and Therapeutic Insights from Toxin and Genetics Models. Ed by R. Nass and S. Przedborski, Elsevier Press, New York.
  8. Petzinger, G. M., and M. W. Jakowec (2007) Animal Models Of Parkinson’s Disease And Related Disorders. In: Handbook for Parkinson’s Disease. Fourth Edition. Eds. R. Pahwa, and K. Lyons, Macel Dekker, Inc., NY, NY.
  9. Petzinger, G. M., J. Walsh, G. Akopian, E. Hogg, A. Abernathy, P. Arevalo, P. Turnquist, B. E. Fisher, D. Togasaki, and M. W. Jakowec (2007) Effects of Treadmill Exercise on dopaminergic transmission in the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-(MPTP)-Lesioned Mouse Model of basal ganglia injury. Journal of Neuroscience 27(20) 5291-5300.
  10. Shakil, S. S., H. K. Homer, C. Moore, A. T. Abernathy, M. W. Jakowec, G. M. Petzinger, and C. K. Meshul (2005) High and low responders to novelty show differential effects in striatal glutamate. Synapse 58 (3) 200-207.