Principal Investigator

​The scope of my laboratory is to elucidate novel physiological and pharmacological mechanisms that regulate dopaminergic and cholinergic signaling in the brain, the intercommunication between these systems in the striatum, and the maladaptation of these systems in drug addiction and movement disorders.

 

My postdoctoral training and my present work have been focused on these questions. My graduate studies focused on lipid-protein interactions, structure‒function relationships, and structural biology of nicotinic receptors, driven by my interest in understanding cholinergic signaling at the atomic level. During my postdoctoral experience, I shifted my research to physiology and pharmacology, focusing on elucidating the role of dopamine receptor 2 in regulating dopamine release, as well as studying the contributions of cholinergic interneurons and medium spiny neurons to striatal dopamine signaling. Furthermore, my postdoctoral experience gave me the opportunity to participate in other projects, including the regeneration of dopaminergic neuron axons via glycine transporter inhibition, the regulation of dopamine release via muscarinic receptor 5 modulation, and the development of fluorescent false neurotransmitters and positive allosteric modulators for muscarinic receptor 5.

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This experience allowed me to become an expert on in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo electrophysiological, electrochemical, and Ca2+ imaging methods. Furthermore, I am also skilled in DNA recombination, protein purification, crystallization, molecular biology & biochemical techniques, behavior paradigms, and computational chemistry, including docking and molecular dynamics.

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My overall experience has resulted in 12 peer-reviewed publications (one first author, two co-first author, one principal investigator, and 9 coauthor). These publications have been cited over 586 times (h-index 9). I am currently writing two additional studies (one as first author and one as principal investigator) that are expected to be submitted for publication in 2026.

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Education & Training:

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Associate Research Scientist

Columbia University, New York NY

Department of Psychiatry

 

Postdoctoral Research Scientist

Columbia University, New York NY

Department of Neurology

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Doctor of Philosophy

Biochemsitry/Biophysics

University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras PR

Department of Chemistry

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Bachelor Degree

Chemistry

University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras PR

School of Natural Sciences

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High School Diploma

De La Salle School, Bayamón PR

Class of 92

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Past Support:

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University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus

Deanship of Research Pilot Program

Lizardi-Ortiz, José E (PI)

07/01/2022-06/30/2023

Pharmacological Characterization of Amphetamine-type Stimulants on β2 Nicotinic Receptors.

The major goal of this project is to determine the pharmacological parameters of amphetamine-type stimulants in α4β2, α4α5β2, and α6β2β3 nicotinic receptors as a potential therapeutic approach for psychostimulant addiction.

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5P20GM103642, NIH–National Institute of General Medical Sciences

COBRE Pilot Project Program (CP3)

Lizardi-Ortiz, José E (PI)

07/01/2019-06/30/2022

Role of Nicotinic Alpha 7 Autoreceptors in Striatal Cholinergic Interneurons.

The major goal of this project is the uncovering of an α7-mediated response with potential modulatory action on the mesolimbic circuitry.

 

Ongoing Support:

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Title V Grant Award P031S200104, US Department of Education

Pilot Projects for Established Researchers (PiPs-ER)

Lizardi-Ortiz, José E (PI)

Valdés-Fernández, Bianca N (Co-PI)

05/20/2024-09/30/2025

10/01/2025-06/30/2026 (No-cost Extension)

Structure-activity of Amphetamine-type Stimulants on Nicotinic Receptors.

The major goal of this project is to determine the binding mechanisms of amphetamine-type stimulants in the α7 nAChR/AChBP chimera as a model describing the binding on native α7 nicotinic receptors.