University of Mississippi · PhysiologyCardiac Neuroprotection Lab
Alexandre Alves Da Silva · University, Mississippi
Research Focus
Dr. Alexandre Alves Da Silva's lab at the University of Mississippi Medical Center focuses on understanding how certain brain pathways can help protect the heart from damage after a heart attack. His research specifically looks at the melanocortin system and how activating this pathway can improve heart function and slow down heart disease progression. By using advanced imaging technology and genetically modified animal models, the lab aims to develop new treatments for heart failure that could help many patients recover better after a heart attack.
myocardial infarctionheart failuremelanocortin systemcardiac functionenergy metabolismMitochondrial biogenesiscardiomyocyte contractilitytherapeutic approaches
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate how activating the brain melanocortin system affects heart function after myocardial infarction.
AIM 02Identify the role of melanocortin 4 receptors in cardiac protection.
AIM 03Examine the impact of brain signaling on cardiomyocyte energy metabolism and contractility.
AIM 04Test the potential of MC4R agonists as new therapies for heart failure.
AIM 05Explore the molecular mechanisms behind the benefits of melanocortin activation on heart health.
Skills the Lab Values
echocardiographyanimal modelsin vivo imaginggenetic engineeringcell culturemolecular biology techniquesmetabolic assaysdata analysis using Pythonex vivo functional assays
Output against the department
Publications122bottom 36% of dept.182nd of 286
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations2.2kbottom 14% of dept.247th of 286
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.