- Overview
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Neurotransmitters are chemicals synthesized inside the brain cells (neuron). Signals from the neuron travel out a thread-like extension called the axon, which connects to the next brain cell through a gap (synapse). There are the target neurons waiting for the signal.
There are many neurotransmitters in the brain. Serotonin, dopamine, acetylcholine are three of them.
Serotonin's role in the body has been associated mainly with mood, but it has major roles in temperature regulation, pain perception, sleep regulation, gut function (irritable bowel syndrome), major vessel constriction and relaxation, blood pressure control, and even neurodegenerative disorders like ALS have been associated with serotonin.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter involved in motor function, behaviour, and cognition.
Acetylcholine functions both in the brain and peripheral neurons as a neuromodulator, it regulates gut function, sensory and autonomic nervous system, and sleep.
My major research is to define some of these neurotransmitters' involvement in disease.
- Publications
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DIP2BCGG repeat expansion in siblings with neurodevelopmental disability and progressive movement disorder
Emilie T. Théberge and Kate Durbano and Diane Demailly and Sophie Huby and Arezoo Mohajeri and Clara van Karnebeek and Gabriella A. Horvath and Karen Usdin and Anna Lehman and Laura Cif and Phillip A. Richmond
DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.05.24308127
06/2024The continuously evolving phenotype of succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency
Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease
Natalia Alexandra Julia-Palacios and Oya Kuseyri Hübschmann and Mireia Olivella and Roser Pons and Gabriella Horvath and Thomas Lücke and Cheuk-Wing Fung and Suet-Na Wong and Elisenda Cortès-Saladelafont and M. Mar Rovira-Remisa and Yilmaz Yildiz and Saadet Mercimek-Andrews and Birgit Assmann and Galina Stevanovic and Filippo Manti and Heiko Brennenstuhl and Sabine Jung-Klawitter and Kathrin Jeltsch and H. Serap Sivri and Sven F. Garbade and Àngels García-Cazorla and Thomas Opladen
DOI: 10.1002/jimd.12723
05/2024Macrocytosis in Mitochondrial DNA Deletion Syndromes
Acta Haematologica
Farida Almarzooqi and Hilary Vallance and Michelle Mezei and Anna Lehman and Gabriella Horvath and Bojana Rakic and Leslie Zypchen and Andre Mattman
DOI: 10.1159/000529311
2023Psychiatric Manifestations in Patients with Biopterin Defects
Neuropediatrics
Maksim Parfyonov and Robin Friedlander and Brian Banno and Dean Elbe and Gabriella Horvath
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1742323
06/2022Recurrent Dystonic Crisis and Rhabdomyolysis Treated with Dantrolene in Two Patients with Aromatic L-Amino Acid Decarboxylase Deficiency
Neuropediatrics
J. Micallef and S. Stockler-Ipsiroglu and C.D. van Karnebeek and R. Salvarinova-Zivkovic and G. Horvath
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-3402010
06/2020Correlation Between Salivary, Platelet and Central Serotonin Levels in Children
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences / Journal Canadien des Sciences Neurologiques
Csilla Egri and Mary Dunbar and Gabriella Ana Horvath
DOI: 10.1017/cjn.2019.334
03/2020Bezafibrate Improves Mitochondrial Fission and Function in DNM1L-Deficient Patient Cells
Cells
Liza Douiev and Ruth Sheffer and Gabriella Horvath and Ann Saada
DOI: 10.3390/cells9020301
01/2020Improvement of Self-Injury With Dopamine and Serotonin Replacement Therapy in a Patient With a Hemizygous PAK3 Mutation: A New Therapeutic Strategy for Neuropsychiatric Features of an Intellectual Disability Syndrome
Journal of Child Neurology
Gabriella A. Horvath and Maja Tarailo-Graovac and Tanja Bartel and Simone Race and Margot I. Van Allen and Ingrid Blydt-Hansen and Colin J. Ross and Wyeth W. Wasserman and Mary B. Connolly and Clara D. M. van Karnebeek
DOI: 10.1177/0883073817740443
01/2018Improved strength on 5-hydroxytryptophan and carbidopa in spinal cord atrophy
Journal of the Neurological Sciences
Gabriella A. Horvath and Lorelyn Meisner and Kathryn Selby and Robert Stowe and Bruce Carleton
DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2017.04.047
07/2017Debunking Occam's razor: Diagnosing multiple genetic diseases in families by whole exome sequencing.
Balci TB and Hartley T and Xi Y and Dyment DA and Beaulieu CL and Bernier FP and Dupuis L and Horvath G and Mendoza-Londono R and Prasad C and Richer J and Yang XR and Armour CM and Bareke E and Fernandez BA and McMillan HJ and Lamont R and Majewski J and Parboosingh J and Narayan Prasad A
DOI: 10.1111/cge.12987
PubMed: 28170084
02/2017The International Working Group on Neurotransmitter related Disorders (iNTD): A worldwide research project focused on primary and secondary neurotransmitter disorders.
Opladen T and Cortès-Saladelafont E and Mastrangelo M and Horvath G and Pons R and Lopez-Laso E and Fernández-Ramos JA and Honzik T and Pearson T and Friedman J and Scholl-Bürgi S and Wassenberg T and Jung-Klawitter S and Kuseyri O and Jeltsch K and Kurian MA and Garcia-Cazorla À and International Working Group on Neurotransmitter related disorders (iNTD)
DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgmr.2016.09.006
PubMed: 27830117
12/2016Eye Findings on Vigabatrin and Taurine Treatment in Two Patients with Succinic Semialdehyde Dehydrogenase Deficiency.
Horvath GA and Hukin J and Stockler-Ipsiroglu SG and Aroichane M
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1583183
PubMed: 27104484
08/2016Secondary neurotransmitter deficiencies in epilepsy caused by voltage-gated sodium channelopathies: A potential treatment target?
Horvath GA and Demos M and Shyr C and Matthews A and Zhang L and Race S and Stockler-Ipsiroglu S and Van Allen MI and Mancarci O and Toker L and Pavlidis P and Ross CJ and Wasserman WW and Trump N and Heales S and Pope S and Cross JH and van Karnebeek CD
DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2015.11.008
PubMed: 26647175
01/2016Deep brain stimulation and dantrolene for secondary dystonia in x-linked adrenoleukodystrophy.
van Karnebeek C and Horvath G and Murphy T and Purtzki J and Bowden K and Sirrs S and Honey CR and Stockler S
DOI: 10.1007/8904_2014_305
PubMed: 24718842
2015Mitochondrial carbonic anhydrase VA deficiency resulting from CA5A alterations presents with hyperammonemia in early childhood.
van Karnebeek CD and Sly WS and Ross CJ and Salvarinova R and Yaplito-Lee J and Santra S and Shyr C and Horvath GA and Eydoux P and Lehman AM and Bernard V and Newlove T and Ukpeh H and Chakrapani A and Preece MA and Ball S and Pitt J and Vallance HD and Coulter-Mackie M and Nguyen H
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2014.01.006
PubMed: 24530203
03/2014A novel recurrent mutation in ATP1A3 causes CAPOS syndrome.
Demos MK and van Karnebeek CD and Ross CJ and Adam S and Shen Y and Zhan SH and Shyr C and Horvath G and Suri M and Fryer A and Jones SJ and Friedman JM and FORGE Canada Consortium
DOI: 10.1186/1750-1172-9-15
PubMed: 24468074
01/2014Long-term outcomes of blood phenylalanine concentrations in children with classical phenylketonuria.
Hartnett C and Salvarinova-Zivkovic R and Yap-Todos E and Cheng B and Giezen A and Horvath G and Lillquist Y and Vallance H and Stockler-Ipsiroglu S
DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2013.01.007
PubMed: 23465864
04/2013Three years experience with dried blood spot a-glucosidase screening for Pompe disease in British Columbia, Canada.
Horvath G and Sirrs S and Stockler S and Salvarinova-Zivkovic R and Vallance H and Waters P
DOI: 10.1186/1471-2474-14-s2-p2
2013Profound neonatal hypoglycemia and lactic acidosis caused by pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy.
Mercimek-Mahmutoglu S and Horvath GA and Coulter-Mackie M and Nelson T and Waters PJ and Sargent M and Struys E and Jakobs C and Stockler-Ipsiroglu S and Connolly MB
DOI: 10.1542/peds.2011-0123
PubMed: 22529283
05/2012The use of parenteral nutrition for the management of PKU patient undergoing chemotherapy for lymphoma: a case report.
Salvarinova-Zivkovic R and Hartnett C and Sinclair G and Dix D and Horvath G and Lillquist Y and Stockler-Ipsiroglu S
DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2012.01.007
PubMed: 22305856
04/2012Failure of repeated cyclophosphamide pulse therapy in childhood cerebral X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy.
Horvath GA and Eichler F and Poskitt K and Stockler-Ipsiroglu S
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1307455
PubMed: 22430161
02/2012Hemiplegic migraine, seizures, progressive spastic paraparesis, mood disorder, and coma in siblings with low systemic serotonin.
Horvath GA and Selby K and Poskitt K and Hyland K and Waters PJ and Coulter-Mackie M and Stockler-Ipsiroglu SG
DOI: 10.1177/0333102411420584
PubMed: 22013141
11/2011Treatment of intractable epilepsy in a female with SLC6A8 deficiency.
Mercimek-Mahmutoglu S and Connolly MB and Poskitt KJ and Horvath GA and Lowry N and Salomons GS and Casey B and Sinclair G and Davis C and Jakobs C and Stockler-Ipsiroglu S
DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2010.08.016
PubMed: 20846889
12/2010Autosomal recessive GTP cyclohydrolase I deficiency without hyperphenylalaninemia: evidence of a phenotypic continuum between dominant and recessive forms.
Horvath GA and Stockler-Ipsiroglu SG and Salvarinova-Zivkovic R and Lillquist YP and Connolly M and Hyland K and Blau N and Rupar T and Waters PJ
DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2008.01.003
PubMed: 18276179
05/2008Newborn screening for MCAD deficiency: experience of the first three years in British Columbia, Canada.
Horvath GA and Davidson AG and Stockler-Ipsiroglu SG and Lillquist YP and Waters PJ and Olpin S and Andresen BS and Palaty J and Nelson J and Vallance H
PubMed: 18767270
2008Report of a fourth individual with a lethal syndrome of choanal atresia, athelia, evidence of renal tubulopathy, and family history of neck cysts.
Horvath GA and Armstrong L
DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.31734
PubMed: 17486625
06/2007 - Research
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Current Projects
Metabolomics in CSF (spinal fluid) in patients with secondary neurotransmitter deficiencies. Collaborating with a metabolomics Lab in Calgary to characterize and find common abnormalities in more than 150 CSF samples from patients who were found to have CSF neurotransmitter deficiencies, but no primary genetic neurotransmitter deficiency disorder was found.Current Projects
Calcium imaging in human neuronal Induced Pluripotential Cells (iPSC’s) derived from patients with channelopathies (SCN1A mutations). Characterization of Calcium imaging shows that these neurons are a good experimental model for seizure generation and treatment response.Current Projects
Participating in an international project with France, on validation of clinical and deep learning-based tool for recognition and assessment of complex movement disorders.Current Projects
Clinical project: Retrospective review of patients admitted with status dystonicus (severe, persistent dystonia) to BC Children’s Hospital in the last 10 years, leading to a provincial Status dystonicus management guideline development.Current Projects
Characterization of a new genetic disorder associated with hemiplagic migraines, coma, progressive spasticity, weakness, seizure disorder, spinal cord atrophy, and systemic serotonin deficiency. The research of a family with the above described phenotype lead to discovery of disruption of cytoskeletal and axonal transport, and will cause cytoskeletal aggregates in neurons, that will keep neurotransmitter transporters (serotonin transporter) and other membrane expressed proteins (e.g. Na/K ATPase). This disorder has similarities with ALS, and could be a major breakthrough in ALS research. This research also include calcium imaging in human neuronal iPSC’s.GrantsDravet Foundation Canada, Drug response on intraneuronal Ca2+ signaling in neuronal IPScells in Dravet syndrome, $25,000 (Aug 2024- Sep 2025)
RDMM Network, Exploring the mechanism of Ca2+ signaling in neuronal IPScells in Dravet syndrome, $30,000 (Mar 2025- Feb 2026)
Dystonia Medical Research Foundation Canada, Validation of a clinical and deep learning-based tool for recognition, assessment, and monitoring of complex movement disorders, $9,000 (Sep 2024-Aug 2025)
BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, Characterization of CSF metabolome in patients with secondary neurotransmitter deficiencies, $10,000 (Aug 2024- Jul 2025)
Honours & Awards“Excellence in Research Mentorship”, award from the Neurology residents, awarded at the Annual Neurology Resident Research Day, in 2015, 2016, 2017
Clinical Investigator Program, two year scholarship awarded (July 2008 to June 2010)
Laura MacRae Award 2007 (awarded to outstanding graduate student in the Dept. of Pediatrics, UBC, by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia, June 2007
Rookie of the Year 2007, (awarded by the Pediatric Residents, UBC, at the Annual Graduation and Awards Dinner), June 2007.
Research Group MembersZain Awad, Research Volunteer
Grace Clarke, Research Assistant
Sally Lin
Aamina Shah, Research Assistant
Arissa Tejani, Summer Student
Keshvi Vithlani, Research Assistant
Congratulations CIHR Fall 2024 Project Grant recipients
Congratulations to the investigators and their teams who were awarded funding through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Fall 2024 Project Grant competition!
