Karina A Alvina,
Research Assistant Professor
On This Page
About Karina A Alvina
Dr. Alviña is a Research Assistant Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Florida College of Medicine. She received her PhD in Biological Sciences-Physiology in 2008 from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile in Santiago, Chile. She went on to complete her first Postdoctoral Fellowship (2009-2011) at Columbia University in New York, NY and a second Postdoctoral Fellowship (2012-2016) at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in The Bronx, NY. Dr. Alviña’s work focuses on various aspects of fundamental cellular physiology in the brain. In particular, she studies how specific areas involved in learning and memory are influenced by environmental factors such as stress, exercise and dietary habits, and neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease .
Teaching Profile
Courses Taught
-
GMS7794 – Neuroscience Seminar
College of Medicine
-
GMS6705 – Functional Human Neuroanatomy
College of Medicine
-
GMS6022 – Principles of Neurophysiology
College of Medicine
-
GMS6090 – Research in Medical Sciences
College of Medicine
-
GMS6905 – Independent Studies in Medical Sciences
College of Medicine
-
GMS7979 – Advanced Research
College of Medicine
-
GMS6701 – Functional and Comparative Neuroanatomy for Professionals
College of Medicine
-
GMS6971 – Research for Master’s Thesis
College of Medicine
-
GMS7795 – Special Topics in Neuroscience
College of Medicine
-
GMS6029 – Brain Journal Club
College of Medicine
Research Profile
Dr. Alviña’s research program centers around understanding how brain cells communicate with each other to evoke different behaviors, in normal and pathological conditions. Areas of focus include neural mechanisms altered by stress and environmental factors such as dietary habits and exercise, and how these mechanisms can lead to unhealthy cognitive aging and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Alviña’s laboratory utilizes a multi-disciplinary approach that includes behavioral analysis using animals models, electrophysiology, and pharmacology.
Areas of Interest
- Clinical Translational Neuroscience
- Neurodegenerative diseases
- Neurological disorders
- Neurophysiology
- Neuroplasticity
- neuro-inflammation
- neuroscience
Publications
Academic Articles
Grants
-
Mechanisms underlying Cryptococcus neoformans-induced meningoencephalitis and neurotoxicity in a CD4 T cell-deficient mouse
Active
- Role:
- Co-Investigator
- Funding:
- NATL INST OF HLTH NIAID
-
GATORAADE: Gators Advancing Through Opportunities in Research for Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease Education
Active
- Role:
- Principal Investigator
- Funding:
- NATL INST OF HLTH NIA
-
Networking and Expanding Undergraduate Research on the Neurobiology of Aging to Advance Diversity
- Role:
- Principal Investigator
- Funding:
- NATL INST OF HLTH NIA
-
Role of Irisin as mediator of exercise-related cognitive improvement in Alzheimers Disease
- Role:
- Principal Investigator
- Funding:
- FL DEPT OF HLTH ED ETHEL MOORE ALZHEIMER
-
Centrifugal regulation of olfactory function by melanin-concentrating hormone
Active
- Role:
- Principal Investigator
- Funding:
- NATL INST OF HLTH NIDCD
Education
-
Postdoctoral Fellow
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
-
Postdoctoral Fellow
Columbia University
-
Ph.D. Biological Sciences, Physiology
Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
Contact Details
- Business:
- (352) 294-8266
- Business:
- kalvina@ufl.edu
- Business Mailing:
-
PO Box 100244
GAINESVILLE FL 32610 - Business Street:
-
1149 NEWELL DR RM L1 # 100C
GAINESVILLE FL 32610