{"id":9621,"date":"2025-02-28T14:23:51","date_gmt":"2025-02-28T18:23:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/neuroid.uprrp.edu\/?page_id=9621"},"modified":"2025-02-28T16:08:05","modified_gmt":"2025-02-28T20:08:05","slug":"angelica-s-cruz-calderon-2023-2025","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/neuroid.uprrp.edu\/index.php\/angelica-s-cruz-calderon-2023-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Ang\u00e9lica S. Cruz-Calder\u00f3n (2023-2025)"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\tHome Research\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2> <\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n <\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Mentor\/s:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Cornelis P. Vlaar, PhD<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Project Title:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Development of novel inhibitors targeting nav channels for epilepsy treatment<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Project Description:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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I developed an independent project under Dr. Vlaar that combined my interests in neuroscience and organic chemistry. I design and synthesize novel<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Nav channel inhibitors for epilepsy treatment by creating derivatives of the antiepileptic drug<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Rufinamide. I began this project by identifying the residues in voltage-gated sodium channels that<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>interact with Rufinamide to exert its antiepileptic effects. Next, I selected functional groups that<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>would enhance interactions with these residues and designed potential molecules incorporating<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>these modifications. Using molecular docking software, such as AutoDock Vina, I predicted<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>binding affinities and identified the most promising candidates for synthesis. As part of my project, I conduct organic syntheses, purification, and characterization using proton and carbon-13 NMR. Currently, I am developing 10 novel derivatives and collaborating with Dr. Alfredo Ghezzi\u2019s lab to evaluate the anticonvulsant activity of these compounds using a Drosophila model.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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LinkedIn Profile:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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www.linkedin.com\/in\/ang\u00e9lica-cruz-calder\u00f3n-03555527a<\/em><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\tSummer Research\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2> <\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n <\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Mentor\/s:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Andrew Tidball, PhD<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Project Title:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Role of SYNGAP1 in the Development of Neural Tube Defects<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Project Description:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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My <\/span>worked<\/span> focused on human developmental brain malformations, specifically the<\/span> role of SYNGAP1 in neural tube defects.<\/span><\/span> Using brain organoids derived from CRISPR-engineered<\/span> and patient-derived stem cells, I investigated the gene\u2019s contribution to anencephaly. This project<\/span> enabled me to master techniques such as stem cell culture, immunocytochemistry, and confocal<\/span> microscopy.<\/span> Preliminary findings revealed that brain organoids with SYNGAP1 mutations<\/span> exhibited<\/span> altered neuronal differentiation and disrupted cellular organization. These results<\/span> underscored the critical role of SYNGAP1 in human brain development and laid the groundwork<\/span> for future therapeutic interventions.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Home Research Mentor\/s:\u00a0 Cornelis P. Vlaar, PhD Project Title:\u00a0 Development of novel inhibitors targeting nav channels for epilepsy treatment Project Description:\u00a0 I developed an independent project under Dr. Vlaar that combined my interests in neuroscience and organic chemistry. I design and synthesize novel\u00a0Nav channel inhibitors for epilepsy treatment by creating derivatives of the antiepileptic drug\u00a0Rufinamide. … <\/p>\n

Read more “Ang\u00e9lica S. Cruz-Calder\u00f3n (2023-2025)”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-9621","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"NeuroID Program","author_link":"https:\/\/neuroid.uprrp.edu\/index.php\/author\/neuroid\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":null,"rttpg_excerpt":"Home Research Mentor\/s:\u00a0 Cornelis P. Vlaar, PhD Project Title:\u00a0 Development of novel inhibitors targeting nav channels for epilepsy treatment Project Description:\u00a0 I developed an independent project under Dr. Vlaar that combined my interests in neuroscience and organic chemistry. I design and synthesize novel\u00a0Nav channel inhibitors for epilepsy treatment by creating derivatives of the antiepileptic drug\u00a0Rufinamide.…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/neuroid.uprrp.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9621","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/neuroid.uprrp.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/neuroid.uprrp.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neuroid.uprrp.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neuroid.uprrp.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9621"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/neuroid.uprrp.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9621\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9701,"href":"https:\/\/neuroid.uprrp.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9621\/revisions\/9701"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/neuroid.uprrp.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9621"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}