Dr Richard Loiacono - Researcher Profile

Biography

Richard works in the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences at Monash University as a Senior Lecturer.

Qualifications

PHD IN PHARMACOLOGY

Institution: University of Melbourne

Year awarded: 1986

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (PHARMACOLOGY) - HONS

Institution: University of Melbourne

Year awarded: 1981

Publications

Books

Loiacono, R.E., Widdop, R.E. (eds), 1997, Proceedings of ASCEPT, ASCEPT, Sydney NSW Australia.

Journal Articles

Suratman, N.S., Leach, K., Sexton, P., Felder, C.C., Loiacono, R., Christopoulos, A., 2011, Impact of species variability and "probe-dependence" on the detection and in vivo validation of allosteric modulation at the M(4) muscarinic acetylcholine receptor, British Journal of Pharmacology [P], vol 162, issue 7, John Wiley & Sons Ltd, UK, pp. 1659-1670.

Leach, K., Loiacono, R.E., Felder, C.C., McKinzie, D.L., Mogg, A., Shaw, D.B., Sexton, P.M., Christopoulos, A., 2010, Molecular mechanisms of action and in vivo validation of an M4 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor allosteric modulator with potential antipsychotic properties, Neuropsychopharmacology [P], vol 35, issue 4, Nature Publishing Group, UK & USA, pp. 855-869.

Robinson, S.A., Loiacono, R., Christopoulos, A., Sexton, P., Malone, D.T., 2010, The effect of social isolation on rat brain expression of genes associated with endocannabinoid signaling, Brain Research [P], vol 1343, Elsevier BV, The Netherlands, pp. 153-167.

Blacklow, B., Kornhauser, R.S., Hains, P.G., Loiacono, R., Escoubas, P., Graudins, A., Nicholson, G.M., 2010, alpha-Elapitoxin-Aa2a, a long-chain snake alpha-neurotoxin with potent actions on muscle (alpha1)2betagammadelta nicotinic receptors, lacks the classical high affinity for neuronal alpha7 nicotinic receptors, Biochemical Pharmacology [P], vol 81, issue 2, Elsevier Inc., USA, pp. 314-325.

Gibbs, M.E., Bowser, D.N., Hutchinson, D.S., Loiacono, R., Summers, R.J., 2008, Memory processing in the avian hippocampus involves interactions between beta-adrenoceptors, glutamate receptors, and metabolism, Neuropsychopharmacology, vol 33, issue 12, Nature Publishing Group, United Kingdom, pp. 2831-2846.

Nawaratne, O.V., Leach, K., Suratman, S., Loiacono, R., Felder, C.C., Armbruster, B.N., Roth, B.L., Sexton, P., Christopoulos, A., 2008, New insights into the function of M4 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors gained using a novel allosteric modulator and a DREADD (designer receptor exclusively activated by a designer drug), Molecular Pharmacology, vol 74, issue 4, American Society for Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, United States, pp. 1119-1131.

Werry, T.D., Loiacono, R., Sexton, P., Christopoulos, A., 2008, RNA editing of the serotonin 5HT2C receptor and its effects on cell signalling, pharmacology and brain function, Pharmacology & Therapeutics, vol 119, issue 1, Elsevier Inc., USA, pp. 7-23.

Davis, E.A., Loiacono, R., Summers, R.J., 2008, The rush to adrenaline: Drugs in sport acting on the beta-adrenergic system, British Journal of Pharmacology, vol 154, issue 3, John Wiley & Sons Ltd. (Nature Publishing Group), United Kingdom, pp. 584-597.

Small, D.H., Maksel, D.M., Kerr, M., Ng, J.H.P., Hou, X., Chu, C., Mehrani, H., Unabia, S., Azari, M.F., Loiacono, R., Aguilar, M.I., Chebib, M., 2007, The beta-amyloid protein of Alzheimer's disease binds to membrane lipids but does not bind to the alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, Journal of Neurochemistry, vol 101, issue 6, Blackwell Publishing, Oxford England UK, pp. 1527-1538.

Ingram, N.C., Martin, S., Wang, J.H., van der Laan, S., Loiacono, R.E., van den Buuse, M., 2005, Interaction of corticosterone and nicotine in regulation of prepulse inhibition in mice, Neuropharmacology, vol 48, issue 1, Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd, Kidlington England, pp. 80-92.

Henderson, D.J., Eberl, S., Thomson, S., Smith, A., Allan, R.D., Fulham, M.J., Loiacono, R., Kassiou, M., 2004, 3-Pyridyl ethers as SPECT radioligands for imaging nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, Applied Radiation and Isotopes, vol 60, issue 5, Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd, Oxford UK, pp. 669-676.

Wickramaratna, J.C., Fry, B., Loiacono, R.E., Aguilar, M., Alewood, P., Hodgson, W.C., 2004, Isolation and characterization at cholinergic nicotinic receptors of a neurotoxin from the venom of the Acanthophis sp. Seram death adder, Biochemical Pharmacology, vol 68, issue 2, Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd, Oxford UK, pp. 383-394.

Ryan, R.E., Ross, S.A., Drago, J., Loiacono, R.E., 2001, Dose-Related Neuroprotective Effects of Chronic Nicotine in 6-Hydroxydopamine Treated Rats, and Loss of Neuroprotection in 4 nicotinic receptor subunit knockout mice, British Journal of Pharmacology, vol 132, Nature Publishing Group Specialist Journals, UK, pp. 1650-1656.

Hemedah, M., Loiacono, R.E., Coupar, I., Mitchelson, F., 2001, Lack of evidence for histamine H3 receptor function in rat ileum and human colon, Naunyn-Schmeideberg's Archives of Pharmacology, vol 363, Springer-Verlag, Germany, pp. 133-138.

Ryan, R.E., Loiacono, R.E., 2001, Nicotine regulates 7 nicotinic receptor subunit mRNA: implications for nicotine dependence, NeuroReport, vol 12, issue 3, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, USA, pp. 569-572.

Ryan, R.E., Loiacono, R.E., 2000, Nicotinic receptor subunits mRNA in the thalamus of the rat: relevance to schizophrenia?, NeuroReport, vol 11 issue 17, Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia PA USA, pp. 3693-3698.

Postgraduate Research Supervisions

Current Supervision

Program of Study:

(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

Molecular toxinology of lesser known Australian venomous snakes.

Supervisors:

Hodgson, W (Main), Loiacono, R (Associate).

Completed Supervision

Student:

Brown, L.

Program of Study:

NADPH oxidase and neuroinflammation in models of Parkinsonian-like neuropathology. (PHD) 2009.

Supervisors:

Loiacono, R (Main).

Student:

Chavez, C.

Program of Study:

Effects of estrogen in animal models with relevance to schizophrenia. (PHD) 2009.

Supervisors:

Loiacono, R (Main).

Student:

Djouma, E.

Program of Study:

Co-morbid depression and alcoholism: neuropharmacological studies of novel therapeutic strategies. (PHD) 2005.

Supervisors:

Loiacono, R (Joint-Co).

Student:

Ingram, N.

Program of Study:

Interaction between nicotine and antipsychotic drugs. (PHD) 2010.

Supervisors:

Loiacono, R (Main).

Student:

Kennon, F.

Program of Study:

Apolipoprotein E and the low density lipoprotein family of receptors in the central nervous system and Alzheimer's disease. (PHD) 2010.

Supervisors:

Loiacono, R (Main).

Student:

Robinson, S.

Program of Study:

An investigation into the various roles of the endocannabinoid system in the brain. (PHD) 2009.

Supervisors:

Loiacono, R (Main).

Student:

Ryan, R.

Program of Study:

NEURONAL NICOTINIC ACETYLCHOLINE RECEPTORS: LOCALISATION, REGULATION AND INVOLVEMENT IN NEUROPROTECTION. (PHD) 2002.

Supervisors:

Loiacono, R (Main).

Student:

Thompson, L.

Program of Study:

RECEPTOR AND NEUROCHEMICAL CHANGES IN MODELS OF ALZHEIMER-LIKE NEUROPATHOLOGY. (PHD) 2002.

Supervisors:

Loiacono, R (Main).

Student:

Weston, R.

Program of Study:

Investigation and pharmacological modulation of inflammatory processes following stroke and spinal cord injury. (PHD) 2009.

Supervisors:

Jarrott, B (Joint-Co), Loiacono, R (Joint).