Robert Pechnick, PhD

• 1985 - 1986 NIH Postdoctoral Fellow, Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology University of California at Los Angeles
• 1983 - 1985 NIMH Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Psychology University of California at Los Angeles
• 1982 Ph.D. in Pharmacology University of California at Los Angeles
• 1973 B.A. in Psychology University of California at San Diego

NIH Postdoctoral Fellow, Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, UCLA, Los Angeles CA, 1985-86
NIMH Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Psychology, UCLA, Los Angeles CA, 1983-85

• 2012 – Present Professor of Pharmacology and Pharmacology Discipline Leader Department of Basic Medical Sciences
  College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific Western University of Health Sciences
• 2013 – 2017 Professor of Pharmacology Graduate College of Biomedical Sciences Western University of Health Sciences
• 2002 - 2012 Professor of Psychiatry Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
• 2010 – 2012 Professor of Biomedical Sciences Department of Biomedical Sciences Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
• 2000 – 2012 Professor of Psychiatry and Associate Director of Research Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
• 1996 Promotion to Tenured Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Neuroscience Department of Pharmacology Louisiana State University, New Orleans
• 1993 - 1999 Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Neuroscience Department of Pharmacology Louisiana State University, New Orleans
• 1993 - 1993 Visiting Assistant Research Pharmacologist UCLA Department of Pharmacology
• 1988 - 1992 Adjunct Assistant Professor UCLA Department of Pharmacology
• 1986 - 1988 Assistant Research Pharmacologist UCLA Department of Pharmacology

• Professor of Pharmacology, Western University of Health Sciences, COMP, 2012-present
• Professor of Psychiatry, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 2002-2012
• Professor of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 2010-2012
• Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 2000-2012
• Promotion to Tenured Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Louisiana State University, New Orleans, 1996
• Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacology, Louisiana State University, New Orleans 1993-1999
• Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, UCLA, 1988-1992

• Fundamentals of Osteopathic Medicine 2
• Fundamentals of Osteopathic Medicine 5
• Fundamentals of Osteopathic Medicine 6
• Fundamentals of Osteopathic Medicine 8 (Co-Block Lead)

The research in my laboratory has focused on three aspects of neuropsychopharmacology: using rodent animal models to understand the causes of and to develop new potential treatments for various forms of mental illness; utilizing both in vivo and in vitro approaches to study the neuropharmacology of drugs of abuse; and defining the role of hippocampal neurogenesis in health and disease states. Recent goals include: defining the involvement of cytokines and stress in adult hippocampal neurogenesis and depression; determining how antidepressant drugs stimulate adult hippocampal neurogenesis; and understanding the role of adult hippocampal neurogenesis in post-chemotherapy-induced deficits in cognitive function (i.e., “chemobrain”).

• 1U01NS052465 (Castro) 04/01/07 – 03/31/12 National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke $1,784,050 Gutless Adenovirus-Mediated Gene Therapy for Glioma Role: Co-Investigator 1R21MH079370 7/01/07 – 5/31/10 National Institute of Mental Health $275,000 Viral-Mediated Corticotropin Releasing Hormone (CRH) Expression and Depression Role: Principal Investigator
• 1R21MH79988 (Chesnokova) 12/01/07 – 11/30/10 National Institute of Mental Health $275,000 Role of p21 in Antidepressant-Induced Neurogenesis Role: Co-Investigator
• 1R01DA021249 4/01/08 – 7/31/14 National Institute on Drug Abuse $1,000,000 Nicotine Addiction: Influence of Prenatal and Adolescent Exposure Role: Principal Investigator
• 1R21DA021805 4/01/08 – 3/31/11 National Institute on Drug Abuse $275,000 Viral-Mediated GDNF Expression and Cocaine Addiction Role: Principal Investigator
• BC075629 9/01/08 – 4/30/10 US Army $121,875 Basic Mechanisms Underlying Post-Chemotherapy Cognitive Impairment Role: Principal Investigator Joseph Drown Foundation (Wheeler) 10/15/2008 – 10/14/2010 Total costs $50,000 CD8 T Cell Involvement in Alzheimer’s-Like Pathology in Mice Role: Co-Investigator NARSAD (Chesnokova) 9/15/09 – 9/14/10 Total costs $100,000 Inflammation-Induced Depression: Contribution of Hippocampal Neurogenesis Role: Co-Investigator Brain Cells, Inc. 03/18/10-3/19/11 Behavioral Effects of BCI-838 Total costs $89,583 Role: Principal Investigator
• R21AG033394-01 9/30/09 – 8/31/12 National Institute on Aging (Cohen) Total costs $225,500 The Role of CD8+ T cells in a Rat Model of Alzheimer’s Disease Role Co-Investigator
• 1R01NS076794-01 Town (PI) 9/30/11 – 9/30/12 National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (Town) $365,313 Peripheral TGF-Beta Pathway Inhibitor Therapy in Alzheimer's Rats Role: Co-Investigator
• 1 R43 DA041758-01 Richardson (PI) 3/01/16 – 9/30/16 Agency: NIDA/NIH Total costs $25,253 Title: AniStat: A Statistical Design Tool for Animal Researchers Role: Co-Investigator (subcontract)
• PC150494 8/01/16 – 7/30/20 Agency: Department of the Army Total costs $535,496 Title: Androgen Deprivation Therapy and Cognitive Impairment Role: Principle Investigator

• Best Class Advisor, Psychiatry Residency Program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (2012)
• College on Problems of Drug Dependence Travel Award
• Copping Excellence in Basic Science Teaching Award, Louisiana State University, New Orleans (1999)
• Copping Excellence in Basic Science Teaching Award Nominee, Louisiana State University, New Orleans (1997, 1998)
• David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Award for Excellence in Education (2008)
• Dean¿s Award for Faculty Excellence, College of Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences (2019)
• Giannini Foundation Fellowship
• Golden Apple Award, Western University College of Medicine, 2021
• Gordon Conference Travel Award
• Institute for Medical Educators Student Focus Award, Western University of Health Sciences (2016)
• Medical Student Teaching Award, UCLA Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences (2006, 2011)
• Mental Health Training Fellowship ¿ National Institute of Mental Health
• National Research Service Award ¿ National Institute of General Medical Sciences
• Neuroendocrinology Postdoctoral Training Fellowship ¿ NIH
• Outstanding Basic Science Faculty Award, College of Medicine Class of 2017, Western University of Health Sciences (2014)
• Outstanding Basic Science Faculty Award, College of Medicine Class of 2018, Western University of Health Sciences (2015)
• Outstanding Basic Science Faculty Award, College of Medicine Class of 2020, Western University of Health Sciences (2017)
• Outstanding Teacher Award, UCLA School of Medicine (1991, 1992)
• Reuben H. Fleet Foundation Award
• J.Thomas Ungerleider Substance Abuse Prevention/Education Lectureship, UCLA School of Medicine (1997)

• American Association for the Advancement of Science
• American College of Neuropsychopharmacology
• American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
• College on Problems of Drug Dependence
• Division of Behavioral Pharmacology, American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
• Division of Neuropharmacology, American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
• Division of Pharmacology Education, American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
• Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience
• International Society for Serotonin Research
• Member, National Faculty in the Department of Foundational Biomedical Sciences – Pharmacology, National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners
• Sigma Xi
• Society for Neuroscience

• Chair, Pharmacology Faculty Search Committee
• Proposal and Innovation Subcommittee of the Curriculum Committee
• Implementation Subcommittee of the Curriculum Committee
• Curriculum Response Task Force
• Board Advisor Task Force
• Travel Awards and Mentoring Committee, College on Problems of Drug Dependence
• Curricular Guide for Revision, Task Force, Council of Faculties of the American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine

• Pechnick, R.N., Kariagina, A., Hartvig, E., Poland, R.E. and Chesnokova, V.M.: Developmental Exposure to Corticosterone: Behavioral Changes and Differential Effects on Corticotropin Releasing Hormone (CRH) and Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF) Gene Expression in the Mouse.Psychopharmacology, 185: 76-83, 2006.

• Liu, X., Caggiula, A.R., Yee, S.K., Nobuta, H., Poland, R.E. and Pechnick. R.N.: Mecamylamine Attenuates Cue-Induced Reinstatement of Nicotine-Seeking Behavior in Rats.Neuropsychopharmacology, 32: 710-718, 2007.

• Pechnick, R.N., Glasner-Edwards, S., Hrymoc, M. and Wilkins, J.N.: Preclinical Development and Clinical Implementation of Treatments for Substance Abuse Disorders.FOCUS, 5: 151-162, 2007.

• Pechnick, R.N., Bresee, C.J. and Poland, R.E.:Comparison of the Effects of Desmethylimipramine on Behavior in the Forced Swim test in Peripuberal and Adult Rats. Behavioural Pharmacology, 19: 81-84, 2008.

• Pechnick, R.N., Zonis, S, Wawrowsky, K, Bresee, C. and Chesnokova, V.:p21Cip1Restricts Neuronal Proliferation in the Subgranular Zone of the Dentate Gyrus in the Hippocampus of the Rat.Proceeding of the National Academy of Science, USA,105: 1358-1363,2008.

• King, G.D., Kroeger, K.M., Bresee, C.J., Candolfi, M., Liu, C., Manalo, C.M., Muhammad, A.K., Pechnick, R.N., Lowenstein, P.R. and Castro, M.G.: Flt3L in combination with HSV1-TK-mediated gene therapy reverses brain tumor-induced behavioral deficits.Molecular Therapy, 16: 682-690, 2008.

• Chesnokova, V.M. and Pechnick, R.N.: Antidepressants and Cdk Inhibitors: Releasing the Brake on Neurogenesis?Cell Cycle, 7:2321-2326, 2008.

• Pechnick, R.N. and Chesnokova, V.M.: Adult Neurogenesis, Cell Cycle and Drug Discovery in Psychiatry.Neuropsychopharmacology, 34:244, 2009.

• Candolfi, M., Kroeger, K.M., Muhammad, A.K.M.G., Yagiz, K., Farrokhi, C., Pechnick, R.N., Lowenstein, P.R. and Castro, M.G.:Gene Therapy for Brain Cancer: Combination Therapies Provide Enhanced Efficacy and Safety.Current Gene Therapy, 9:409-421, 2009.

• IsHak, W.W., Davis, M., Jeffrey, J., Balayan, K., Pechnick, R.N., Bagot, K and Rapaport, M.H.: The Role of Dopaminergic Agents in Improving Quality of Life in Major Depressive Disorder. Current Psychiatry Reports, Current Psychiatry Reports 11:503-508, 2009.

• Puntel, M., Muhammad, A.K., Candolfi, M., Salem, A., Yagiz, K., Farrokhi, C., Kroeger, K.M., Xiong, W., Curtin, J.F., Liu, C., Bondale, Y.S., Lerner, J.1, Pechnick, R.N., Palmer, D., Ng, P., Lowenstein, P.R. and Castro, M.G.A novel bi-cistronic high-capacity gutless adenovirus vector driving constitutive expression of HSV1-TK and Tet-inducible expression of Flt3L for glioma therapeutics.Journal Virology 84:6007-6017, 2010.

• Muhammad, A.K., Puntel, M., Candolfi, M., Salem, A., Yagiz, K., Farrokhi, C., Kroeger, K.M., Xiong, W., Curtin, J.F., Liu, C., Lawrence, K., Bondale, N.S., Lerner, J., Baker, G.J., Foulad, D., Pechnick, R.N., Palmer, D., Ng, P., Lowenstein, P.R. and Castro, M.G.Study of the Efficacy, Biodistribution and Safety Profile of Therapeutic Gutless Adenovirus Vectors as a Prelude to a Phase I Clinical Trial for Glioblastoma Multiforme.Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics 88:204-213, 2010.

• Larocque, D., Sanderson, N.S.R., Bergeron, J., Curtin, J., Girton, J., Wibowo, M., Bondale, N., Kroeger, K.M., Yang, J., Lacayo, L.M., Reyes, K.C., Farrokhi, C., Pechnick, R.N., Castro, M. and Lowenstein, P.R. Exogenous Flt3L Overrides Brain Immune Privilege and Facilitates Recognition of a Neo-Antigen: Implications for Brain Immunotherapies.Proceeding of the National Academy of Science, USA 107:14443-14448, 2010.

• Pechnick, R.N., L.M. Lacayo, L.M., and Manalo, C.M. Characterization of the Effects of Eszopiclone on the Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis.European Journal of Pharmacology 661:22-26, 2011.

• Pechnick, R.N., Manalo, C.M., Lacayo, L.M., Bholat, Y. and Spivak, I.Acamprosate Attenuates Cue-Induced Reinstatement of Nicotine Seeking Behavior in Rats.Behavioural Pharmacology22:222-227, 2011.

• Pechnick, R.N., Zonis, S, Wawrowsky, K, Cosgayon, R., Farrokhi, C., Lcayo, L. and Chesnokova, V. Antidepressants Stimulate Hippocampal Neurogenesis by Inhibiting p21 Expression in the Subgranular Zone. PLoS ONE , Epub 6:e27290, 2011.

• Muhammad, G., Xiong, W., Puntel, M., Farrokhi, C., Kroeger, K.M., Salem, A., Lacayo, L., Pechnick, R.N., Kelson, K.R., Palmer, D., Ng, P., Liu, C., Lowenstein, P.R., and Castro, M.G. Maria G.Safety Profile of Gutless Adenovirus Vectors Delivered into the Normal Brain Parenchyma: Implications for a Glioma Phase I Clinical Trial.Human Gene Therapy Methods 23:271-284, 2012.

• Cohen, R.M., Rezai-Zadeh, K., Weitz, T.M. Rentsendorj, A., Gate, D., Johnson, S., Spivak, I., Bholat, Y., Vasilevko, V., Glabe, C.G., Breunig, J.J., Rakic, P., Davtyan, H., Agadjanyan, M.G., Kempe, V., Barrrio, J., Bannykh, S., Szekely, C.A., Pechnick, R.N., and Town, T. A Transgenic Alzheimer Rat with Plaques, Tau Pathology, Behavioral Impairment, Oligomeric Aß, and Frank Neuronal Loss Journal of Neuroscience 33: 6425-6256, 2013.

• Puntel,, G., Farrokhi, C., Vanderveen, N., Paran, C., Appelhans, A., Kroeger, K.M., Salem, A., Lacayo, L., Pechnick, R.N., Kelson, K.R., Kaur, S., Kennedy, S., Palmer, D., Ng, P., Liu, C., Krasinkiewicz, J., Lowenstein, P.R. and Castro, M.G. Safety Profile, Efficacy, and Biodistribution of a Bicistronic High-Capacity Adenovirus Vector Encoding a Combined Immunostimulation and Cytotoxic Gene Therapy as a Prelude to a Phase I Clinical Trial for Glioblastoma.Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 268: 318-330, 2013.

• Zonis, S., Ljubimov, V.A., Mahgerefteh, M., Pechnick, R.N., Wawrowsky, K, and Chesnokova, V.p21Cip Restrains Hippocampal Neurogenesis and Protects Neuronal Progenitors From Apoptosis During Acute Systemic Inflammation.Hippocampus 23: 1383-1394, 2013.

• Wheeler, C.J., Seksenyan, A., Koronyo, Y., Rentsendorj, A., Sarayba, D., Wu, H., Gragg, A., Siegel, E., Thomas, D., Espinosa, A., Thompson, K., Black, K., Koronyo-Hamaoui, M., Pechnick, R.N.and Irvin, D.K.T-Lymphocyte Deficiency Exacerbates Behavioral Deficits in the 6-OHDA Unilateral Lesion Rat Model for Parkinson’s Disease.Journal of Neurology & Neurophysiology 5, pii: 2019, 2014.

• Zonis, S., Pechnick, R.N., Ljubimov, V.A., Mahgerefteh, M., Wawrowsky, K., Michelsen, K.S. and Chesnokova, V. Chronic intestinal Inflammation Alters Hippocampal Neurogenesis.Journal of Neuroinflammation 12: 65, 2015.

• Chesnokova, V. and Pechnick, R.N.New Signaling Pathway for Gut-Brain Interactions.“Hot Topic”. Neuropsychopharmacology Reviews 41: 372-3,2016.

• Chesnokova, V., Pechnick, R.N. and Wawrowsky, K.Chronic Peripheral Inflammation, Hippocampal Neurogenesis and Behavior.Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 2016 Jan 21. pii: S0889-1591(16)30017-4. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2016.01.017.

• Jhun, M., Panwar A., Cordner R., Irvin, DK., Veiga, L., Yeager N, Pechnick R.N., Schubloom, H.,Black, K. and Wheeler. C.J.CD103 Deficiency Promotes Autism (ASD) and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Behavioral Spectra and Reduces Age-Related Cognitive Decline.Front. Neurol., 23 December 2020.