A.M. (Amalia M.) Dolga, Prof

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES

• Associate Professor in Regenerative Neuropharmacology, University of Groningen (2020-present)
• Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular Pharmacology, University of Groningen (2015-2019)
• Rosalind Franklin Fellow, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy - GRIP, Department of Molecular Pharmacology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands (2015-present)
• Privatdocent, Institute of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany (2015)
• Visiting Scholar, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany (2015-2017) 

EDUCATION and RESEARCH EXPERIENCES :

• Rosalind Franklin Fellow, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.Lab theme: Defining the molecular mechanisms of mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammation in neurodegeneration

•  Privatdozent, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Faculty of Pharmacy, Marburg, Germany (2015)

• Habilitation, Institute of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany (2013-2015)

  Topic: The role of SK channels in neuronal degeneration and inflammation

•  Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany (2008-2013)
  Advisor: Carsten Culmsee, Ph.D.
  Topic 1): Defining the molecular signaling pathways by which mitochondrial dysfunction leads to neuronal cell death.

  Topic 2): Defining how modulation of small conductance calcium-activated potassium channels promotes neuronal survival in neurodegenerative conditions.

• Ph.D University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands (2004-2008)
  Advisor: Ulrich Eisel, Ph.D.

  Topic: Defining how inflammation contribute to neuronal survival and which molecular pathways affect these processes.

• M.Sc., Master research in “Chemistry of biological active compounds”, Department of Chemistry, West University of Timisoara, Romania (2001-2003)

  Master thesis: University of Bremen, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Germany.

•   B.Sc. Chemistry and Biology, The West University of Timisoara, Romania. (1997- 2001)

 GRANT SUPPORT:

• 2023-2025 Michael J. Fox Foundation, Research Grant ($ 500.000), PI: Amalia Dolga, Title: Mitochondrial transplantation in Parkinson's disease

• 2023-2027         ZonMw Open Competitie, Research Grant ( € 772.000)
  PI: Erik Boddeke, Co-PI: Amalia Dolga&Arjan Kortholt, Title: Targeting LRRK2 in Parkinson's disease.
• 2022-2023         ParkinsonFonds, Research Grant ( € 250.000)
  PI: Amalia Dolga, Title: The neuro-immune interaction in Parkinson's disease.
• 2020-2021         Alzheimer Nederland, Research Grant ( € 100.000)
  PI: Amalia Dolga, Title: Targeting SK channels in Alzheimer's disease.
• 2019-2021         ParkinsonFonds, Research Grant ( € 250.000)
  PI: Amalia Dolga, Title: The function of LRRK2 in the immune cells of Parkinson's disease.
• 2015-present     Rosalind Franklin Fellowship
  Lab theme: Defining the molecular mechanisms of mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammation in neurodegeneration
• 2014-2017         Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), Research Grant
  PI: Amalia Dolga, Title: The function of potassium SK channels in neuronal mitochondria. A total of € 211.000 to cover salary for a Ph.D. position (BAT IIa/2), plus consumables for 3 years
• 2014-2015         Forschungsförderfonds (Research Grant), Philipps University Marburg, (€ 40.000) Co-PI: Amalia Dolga & Braxton Norwood, Titel: Es werde Licht: Optogenetic tools for epilepsy
• 2013-2015         Co-writer of funded European 7th Framework Programme
  PI: David Henshall, Title: MicroRNA in the pathogenesis, treatment and prevention of epilepsy. A total of € 124 200 to cover salary for 2 years for a Post-doc position (BAT IIa).

AWARDS (Selection)

• 2013                 Travel award based on scientific merit, Seahorse Bioscience for the oral presentation on ”SK channel activation preserves mitochondrial function and supports neuronal survival under conditions of ER stress and oxidative damage”, 4th ECS Workshop “Ca2+ and cell death” Leuven, Belgium 

• 2012                 Conference fellowship by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, for research on “Novel mitochondrial KCNN2/KCa2.2 channels mediate neuroprotective effects” presented at the Neurons Under Stress Meeting, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.

• 2010                 European Calcium Society, Travel award based on scientific merit for research on “Activation of small conductance KCa2 channels prevents neuronal death induced by delayed calcium deregulation” presented at the European Calcium Society Meeting, Warsaw, Poland. 

• 2009                 Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neurologie, Travel award based on scientific merit for the research paper “Activation of small conductance KCa2 channels attenuates [Ca2+]i increases and provides neuroprotection against glutamate-induced neurotoxicity” presented at the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting, Chicago, USA.

• 2009                 Poster prize, Annual conference of the German pharmaceutical society (DPhG) for the research paper “Activation of small conductance KCa2 channels provides neuroprotection against glutamate toxicity in vitro and cerebral ischemia in vivo”, Jena, Germany

• 2009                 JAD Press release, “Statins Can Protect Against Alzheimer’s Disease, According to New Study”

• 2008                 Science-Daily Press release, “Lovastatin Shown To Slow Progression Of Alzheimer's Disease”, http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080409114625.htm

• 2008                 Internationale Stichting Alzheimer Onderzoek (ISAO) Grant for printing the PhD dissertation entitled “Neuroprotective signaling mechanisms in the mammalian brain”, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, The Netherlands.

• 2002 – 2003      European region action scheme for the mobility of university students at University of Bremen, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Germany.

• 2001                 Conference Grant sponsored by NATO – Advanced Study Institute (ASI) for the study on “Aspects of tautomeric transitions driven by proton tunneling” presented at the “Metal-ligand interactions in molecular, nano, micro- and macro-systems in complex environments” conference held in Cetraro, Italy.

• 1997 – 2001      Governmental scholarship for excellent performance.

INVITED TALKS IN CONFERENCES AND ADVANCED SCHOOLS (Selection)

• May 2023, Keynote lecture at the Dutch Matrix Biology meeting, Zeist, the Netherlands
• April 2023 University of Lille, Brain Biology and Chemistry Team

  Lille Neuroscience and Cognition, Lille, France

• June 2022 FIGON-EUFEPS, Dutch Medicine Days, Leiden, The Nederland
• June 2022 Dutch Neuroscience Meeting, Tiel, The Netherlands
• August 2022 17^th International meeting of the European Calcium Society, Cork, Ireland
• Sept 2019 Brain-on-a-chip, hDMT, Groningen, The Netherlands
• August 2019 Gordon meeting on Organellar Channels and Transporters, Mount Snow, Vermont, US
• June 2019 Dutch Neuroscience Meeting, Lunteren, The Netherlands
• Oct 2018 9th World Congress on Targeting mitochondria, Berlin, Germany
• Sept. 2018 CaSign Symposium, Calcium: Signaling in health, disease and therapy, Leuven, Belgium
• June 2018 UMCG-hDMT Kick-Off Mini-symposium on Organs-on-chip, Eriba, Groningen, The Netherlands
• June 2018 Dutch Neuroscience Meeting, Lunteren, The Netherlands
• Feb. 2018 Neurons-on-a-chip, hDMT Annual meeting, Leiden, The Netherlands
• June 2017 37th National Meeting of the Spanish Society of Pharmacology, Barcelona, Spain
• Dec. 2016 Opening of the Geroscience Center for Brain Health and Metabolism, Institute of Santiago de Chile
• July 2017 Gordon meeting on Intarcellular ion channels, Boston, USA