Farina Marcelo

Marcelo Farina is the leader of the laboratory of experimental neuropathology of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil, where he teaches biochemistry and develops basic research in the field of biochemistry, toxicology and neurosciences.He holds a BSc in pharmacy (1997) and a master degree (1999) in toxicological biochemistry, both from the Federal University of Santa Maria. He earned his PhD in biochemistry (2003) at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.Farina's main research interests include the mechanisms mediating the toxic effects of environmental pollutants toward the central nervous system, with a particular emphasis on the potential occurrence of neurodegenerative disease as consequence of pollutant-induced neurotoxicity. The most important accomplishments derived from the research developed in his laboratory (Federal University of Santa Catarina) are related to: (i) the role of the selenoprotein glutathione peroxidase on the mechanisms of neurotoxicity elicited by the environmental contaminant methylmercury, (ii) beneficial effects of probucol and probucol-derivatives in mitigating neuronal injury in neurodegenerative processes.