George A. Ricaurte is a neurologist and researcher who works at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in the Department of Neurology.

Biography

Ricaurte received his MD from Northwestern University Medical School and his Ph.D. (Pharmacology) from the

University of Chicago The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, U of C, or UChi) is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois. Its main campus is located in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood. The University of Chicago is consistently ranked among the b ...

. His clinical work and research focuses on

Parkinson's disease Parkinson's disease (PD), or simply Parkinson's, is a long-term degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that mainly affects the motor system. The symptoms usually emerge slowly, and as the disease worsens, non-motor symptoms becom ...

and other movement disorders. His work centers on

amphetamine Amphetamine (contracted from alpha- methylphenethylamine) is a strong central nervous system (CNS) stimulant that is used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), narcolepsy, and obesity. It is also commonly used ...

-type drugs and their potential to damage monoamine neurons in the brain. Ricaurte is best known for investigating how

methamphetamine Methamphetamine (contracted from ) is a potent central nervous system (CNS) stimulant that is mainly used as a recreational drug and less commonly as a second-line treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and obesity. Methamph ...

damages

dopamine Dopamine (DA, a contraction of 3,4-dihydroxyphenethylamine) is a neuromodulatory molecule that plays several important roles in cells. It is an organic compound, organic chemical of the catecholamine and phenethylamine families. Dopamine const ...

neurons, and whether

MDMA 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), commonly seen in Tablet (pharmacy), tablet form (ecstasy) and crystal form (molly or mandy), is a potent empathogen–entactogen with stimulant properties primarily used for Recreational dru ...

(ecstasy) damages

serotonin Serotonin () or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is a monoamine neurotransmitter. Its biological function is complex and multifaceted, modulating mood, cognition, reward, learning, memory, and numerous physiological processes such as vomiting and vas ...

neurons. The long-term goal of this neurotoxicology research is to help find ways to prevent or retard the progression of Parkinson's disease and related neurodegenerative disorders. His work also has implications for substance use.disorders. Ricaurte's retracted article on the neurotoxicity of ecstasy, originally published in ''

Science Science is a systematic endeavor that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe. Science may be as old as the human species, and some of the earliest archeological evidence for ...

'', received attention after its findings suggested that a single nights use of MDMA could cause dopamine dysfunction. These results were considered surprising, as MDMA primarily increases the activity of serotonin. Ricuarte was unable to reproduce the results of the study, and consequently discovered that methamphetamine had accidentally been used instead of MDMA during the original research. The paper was retracted in 2003. At the time of the original studies‘ release, the organisation MAPS was seeking approval for the use of MDMA to conduct research on psychedelic assisted psychotherapy. The alarming nature of the studies’ results may have created a ‘speed bump’ for the approval process. Following the retraction, MAPS founder and director Rick Doblin called for a re-evaluation of all of Ricuarte’s work, due to his belief that the study was politically motivated. Whilst Ricuarte was still concerned of the dangers of MDMA, he stated in reference to MAPS research- "If subjects are fully informed of these risks and still chose to participate, and if the protocol has been deemed scientifically and ethically acceptable by the appropriate regulatory bodies, then it should be held to the same standards as other clinical research projects."

References

External links

Official Curriculum Vitae
(PDF)

- includes reference to Ricaurte's work
Johns Hopkins profile
- archive of critical articles about Ricaurte's retracted research. {{DEFAULTSORT:Ricaurte, George A. American neurologists Living people American pharmacologists Year of birth missing (living people) Place of birth missing (living people) Feinberg School of Medicine alumni University of Chicago alumni Johns Hopkins University faculty