Maija DAMBROVA Head of the Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Medicinal Chemistry Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles iela 21, Riga, LV-1006 Latvia Phone/Fax: +371 67702408 E-mail: md@biomed.lu.lv

Date and place of birth: May 3, 1968, Gulbene, Latvia

Fluent in: Latvian (native), English, Russian, and Swedish.

Research interests and activities

Pharmacology, molecular mechanisms and medicinal chemistry related to the anti-ischemic drugs with novel mechanisms of action, cellular energy metabolism, and inflammation.

36 SCI publications, 5 patents.
Presentations at more than 30 international meetings.

Education

2004 MBA, Riga International School of Economics and Business Administration.
Thesis: “Pharmacoeconomics in Latvia”

2001 Dr. pharm., University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia

1999 PhD in Pharmaceutical Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
Thesis: „Discovery of N-hydroxyguanidines as novel electron acceptors of xanthine oxidase. Potential new drugs for treatment of ischaemia and reperfusion injury”

1993 Master degree in Biology, University of Latvia, Faculty of Biology, Riga, Latvia

2005 Head of Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Pharmacology, Medicinal Chemistry Department, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, Latvia

2001 Leading researcher, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, Latvia

1999 Research scientist, Medicinal Chemistry Department, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, Latvia

1995-1999 Ph.D. student in Pharmaceutical Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Department of Pharmaceutical
Biosciences, Uppsala, Sweden

1995 Postgraduate exchange student, Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Division of Pharmacology,
Uppsala Biomedical Centre, Sweden (Swedish Institute stipend)

1993(3 months) Postgraduate exchange student, Institut fur Biochemie und Molekularbiologie, University of Bern, Switzerland

1991 Assistant, Laboratory of Pharmacology, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, Latvia

Specialized courses

• Baltic SUMMER School, 2002, “Signalling in Muscle Metabolism”, Copenhagen
• VIIth LACDR School on Medicinal Chemistry, 1998, Noordwijkerhout, the Netherlands (Travel grants from European University Consortium for Pharmaceutical Research /ULLA/ and Swedish Medical Research Council)
• NorFA-sponsored lecture course “Molecular Biology and Pharmacology of Receptors”, 1994, Turku, Finland

• Corresponding Member, Latvian Academy of Sciences, 2007
• Silver and Bronze Awards in Korea International Women's Exposition (KIWIE) for inventions related to regulation of cellular energy metabolism by mildronate and discovery of different pharmacological activity of optical isomers of CNS active drugs, 2009
• European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) nomination "Portraits of Science - Scientists of Tomorrow", 2008
• L`Oréal Latvian fellowship "For Women in Science" with the support of the Latvian National Commission for UNESCO and the Latvian Academy of Sciences, 2006
• D.H. Grindel medal for investigations of mechanism of action of cardioprotective drug mildronate, 2004
• Young Scientist Travel Award, Millennial World Congress of Pharmaceutical Sciences, San Francisco, USA, 2000

• Lecture course: “Use of radioligands and radioactivity in medicine”, Faculty of Medicine, University of Latvia.
• Supervisor of 2 PhD theses (Dr.pharm. E. Liepinš, 2005; Dr.pharm. R.Vilskersts, 2009), scientific consultant for 2 PhD theses (Dr.med. L.Zvejniece, 2007; Dr.med. I.Konrade, 2008)
• Supervisor and oponent for B.Sc. and M.Sc. thesis, Faculty of Biology and Faculty of Medicine, University of Latvia.

• European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), priority „Promotion of entrepreneurship and innovations”, grant for applied science project „Identification of biomarker complex in metabolome of heart diseases” (2006-2008)
• State research program „New drugs and biocorrectors: constructing, forms of transport and mechanisms of action”; sub-project: New therapies and molecular mechanisms of drugs in CNS and cardiovascular pharmacology (2005-2008)
• Latvian Council of Science grant 05.1461: The role of carnitine biosynthesis in regulation of heart energy metabolism and treatment of ischaemic heart disease (2005-2008)
• Applied research project (Ministry of Education and Science of Republic of Latvia): Synthesis, toxicity and bioavailability profile of mildronate salts (2004-2005)
• Applied research project (Ministry of Education and Science of Republic of Latvia): Development of Xilometazoline containing gel for rhinitis treatment (2003-2004)
• Grant of Taiho Latvija Foundation: Molecular mechanisms of action of antiischemic compounds (2003-2005)
• Latvian Council of Science grant 01.0209: Novel type of xanthine oxidase inhibitors-electron acceptors as potential new drugs for treatment of ischemia and reperfusion injury. (2001-2003)

1. Vilskersts R, Liepinsh E, Mateuszuk L, Grinberga S, Kalvinsh I, Chlopicki S, Dambrova M. Mildronate, a Regulator of Energy Metabolism, Reduces Atherosclerosis in apoE/LDLR Mice, Pharmacology, 2009, 83(5): 287-293.
2. Jankevics A, Liepinsh E, Liepinsh E, Vilskersts R, Grinberga S, Pugovics O, Dambrova M. Metabolomic studies of experimental diabetic urine samples by 'H-NMR spectroscopy and LC/MS method, Chemom. Intellig. Lab. Syst., 2009, 97(1): 11-17.
3. Teus M., Jirgensons A., Dambrova M., Mezhapuke R., Parsons C.G., Danysz W. Identification of GCP II Inhibitors Based on 4-Arylmethyl-3-(carboxyphenyl)-5-hydroxyisoxazole Scaffold, Letters in Drug Design & Discovery, 2009, 6(1): 29-32.
4. Liepinsh E, Vilskersts R, Skapare E, Svalbe B, Kuka J, Cirule H, Pugovics O, Kalvinsh I, Dambrova M. Mildronate decreases carnitine availability and up-regulates glucose uptake and related gene expression in the mouse heart, Life Sciences, 2008, V(83): 613-619.
5. Grinberga S, Zvejniece L, Liepinsh E, Dambrova M, Pugovics O. Quantitative analysis of phenibut in rat brain tissue extracts by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, Biomedical Chromatography, 2008, 22(12): 1321-1324.
6. Muceniece R., Saleniece K., Krigere L., Rumaks J., Dzirkale Z., Mezhapuke R., Kviesis J., Mekss P., Klusa V., Sciöth H.B., Dambrova M. Potato (Solanum tuberosum) Juice Exerts an Anticonvulsant Effect in Mice through Binding to GABA receptors, Planta Med., 2008, 74(5): 491-496.
7. Dambrova M, Zvejniece L, Liepinsh E, Cirule H, Zharkova O, Veinberg G, Kalvinsh I. Comparative pharmacological activity of optical isomers of phenibut, Eur. J.Pharmacol., 2008, 583(1): 128-134.
8. Dambrova M, Cirule H, Svalbe B, Zvejniece L, Pugovichs O, Zorenko T, Kalvinsh I, Liepinsh E, Belozertseva I. Effect of inhibiting carnitine biosynthesis on male rat sexual performance, Physiology & Behavior, 2008, V 95: 341-347.
9. Muceniece R., Zvejniece L., Vilskersts R., Liepinsh E., Baumane L., Kalvinsh I., Wikberg J.E., Dambrova M. Functional evaluation of THIQ, a melanocortin 4 receptor agonist, in models of food intake and inflammation, Basic Clin. Pharmacol. Toxicol., 2007, V101(6): 416-420.
10. Liepinsh E, Vilskersts R, Loca D, Kirjanova O, Pugovichs O, Kalvinsh I, Dambrova M. Mildronate, an inhibitor of carnitine biosynthesis, induces an increase in gamma-butyrobetaine contents and cardioprotection in isolated rat heart infarction. J. Cardiovasc. Pharmacol. 2006;48(6):314-319.
11. Muceniece R., Zvejniece L., Kirjanova O., Liepinsh E., Krigere L., Vilskersts R., Baumane L., Gordjusina V., Kalvinsh I., Wikberg J.E., Dambrova M. ß-MSH inhibits brain inflammation via MC(3)/(4) receptors and impaired NF-kappaB signalling, J.Neuroimmunol., 2005, 169: 13-19
12. Dambrova M., Chlopicki S., Liepinsh E., Kirjanova O., Gorshkova O., Kozlovski V., Uhlen S., Liepina I., Petrovska R., Kalvinsh I., The methylester of gamma-butyrobetaine, but not gamma-butyrobetaine itself, induces muscarinic receptor-dependent vasodilatation, Naunyn Schmiedeberg’s Arch. Pharmacol. 2004; 369: 533-539.
13. Prusis P., Dambrova M., Andrianov V., Rozhkov E., Semenikhina V., Piskunova I., Ongwae E., Lundstedt T., Kalvinsh I., Wikberg J.E., Synthesis and quantitative structure-activity relationship of hydrazones of N-amino-N'-hydroxyguanidine as electron acceptors for xanthine oxidase, J. Med. Chem. 2004; 47:3105-3110.
14. Muceniece R., Zvejniece L., Kirjanova O., Liepinsh E., Krigere L., Baumane L., Kalvinsh I., Wikberg JE., Dambrova M., ß- and ?-melanocortins inhibit lipopolysaccharide induced nitric oxide production in mice brain, Brain Res. 2004; 995(1):7-13.
15. Dambrova M., Liepinsh E., Kalvinsh I., Mildronate. Cardioprotective Action through Carnitine-Lowering Effect, Trends Cardiovasc. Med. 2002; 12: 275-279.
16. Dambrova M, Baumane L, Kalvinsh I, Wikberg JE. Improved method for EPR detection of DEPMPO-superoxide radicals by liquid nitrogen freezing, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 2000, 275(3): 895-898.
17. Lundstedt T., Skottner A., Seifert A.E., Wikberg J., Kalvins I., Andrianov V., Rozhkov E., Semenikhina V., Piskunova I., Veveris M., Dambrova M. Guanidine derivatives and their use in the production of a medicament for blocking xanthine oxides/dehydrogenase. Pat WO 0125192, 2001.04.12.
18. Wikberg J.E.S., Dambrova M., Uhlen S., Prusis P. Use of hydroxyguanidines. Pat. US 6599943, 2003-07-29. Pat. WO 9823267; EP 1007025 (Hydroxyguanidines for the treatment of ischemic condition); CA 2272952; AU 742969.
19. Veinbergs G., Vorona M., Dambrova M., Karina L., Zvejniece L., Kalvins I., Cernobrovijs A. Method of preparation and use of pharmacologically active N-carbamoylmethyl-4(R)-phenyl-2-pyrolidinone. Pat. WO 2007104780, 2007-09-20.
20. Liepinsh E., Dambrova M., Vilskersts R., Kalvinsh I. Pharmaceutical composition for activation of glucose transport. Pat. LV 13653 (B), 2008-06-20.

Last update 26.05.2009