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George R. Uhl, MD, PhD

Academic Title:

Professor

Primary Appointment:

Neurology

Secondary Appointment(s):

Pharmacology

Additional Title:

Professor of Neurology Professor of Pharmacology

Phone (Primary):

401 605 7000 x 56612

Education and Training

BA Johns Hopkns University

PhD Johne Hopkins School of Medicine

MD Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Internal Medicine Stanfore University Hospitals

Neurology Johns Hopkins Hospital 

Biosketch

Assistant Professor (Johns Hopkins, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Neuorlogy and Neuroscience)

Associate Investigator HHMI

Associate Professor (part time) Johns Hopkins (Neurology and Neuroscience)

Branch Chief and Acting Scientific Director NIH (NIDA)

Professor (part time then adjunct) Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Putlic Health (Neurology, Neuroscience, Mental Health), University of New Mexico (Neurology, Neuroscience, Molecular Biology and Genetics)

Neurologist, Chief of Neurology, Associate Chief of Staff for Research (New Mexico VA Healthcare System, VA Maryland Healthcare System) 

Professor, University of Maryland School of Medicine (Neurology, Pharmacology)

 

Research/Clinical Keywords

Neurology, Neuropharmacology, Complex genetics, Molecular neurobiology, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Pain, Restless Leg Syndrome, Addiction, Drug development

Highlighted Publications

Henderson I, Uhl GR and others Substrate selective positive allosteric modulation of PTPRD's phosphatase by flavonols Biochemical Pharmacology PMID 35636503

Uhl GR Dopamine compartmentalization, selective dopaminergic vulnerabilities in Parkinson's disease and therapeutic opportunities Annals of Clinical and Translational Neuology PMID 30847375

Uhl GR and others Cocaine reward is reduced by decreased expression of PTPRD and by a novel PTPRD antagonist Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences PMID 30348770

Uhl GR and others Polysubstance abuse-vulnerbility genes: genome scan for association using 1009 subjects and 1495 single nucleotide polymorphisms American Journal of Human Genetics PMID 11704927

Wang Jb Uhl GR and others Mu opiate receptor: cDNA cloning and expression Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences PMID 8234282 

Shimada S Uhl G and others Cloning and expression of a cocaine-sensitive dopamine transporter cDNA Science PMID 1948034

Additional Publication Citations

Dr Uhl has authored more than 165 peer reviewed papers, more than 125 review articles and a book, He has founded a journal and has an H index > 115., 

Research Interests

Dr Uhl has had broad research experience in molecular, pharmacologic and genetic approaches to neurological diseases, pain and addiction. 

Current "postGWAS" work in his laboratory follows on his/others identification of genes in which common allelic variants alter neurodegeneration and addiction related phenotypes, initial post GWAS work that replicated some of these phenotpyhes in mouse models and important clues from environmental influences. He is also following up on the novel discovery of substrate specific positive allosteric modulation that his group made in pursuit of these studies. 

Dr Uhl's recent intellectual property relating to PTPRD phosphatase inhibitors and substrate selective postivie allosteric modulators provides opportunities for further development of developmental candidate phosphatase inhibtors to first in human use to reduce reward from addictive substances and to reduce obesity. It provides opportunities to move from lead compound flavonol analogs to novel structures for reducing neurofibrillary and other pathologies in Alzheimer's disease (and possibly to prevent development of AD during aging). 

Clinical Specialty Details

Neurodegenerative disorders, especially Parkinson's disease. RLS. 

Awards and Affiliations

Fellow, American Neurological Association. Fellow, American College of Neuropsychopharmacology. Member Scientific Advisory Board RLS foundation. 

Grants and Contracts

NIDA, NIA