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Dr. Richard Grondin, Ph.D., graduated in 1997 from Laval University College of Medicine in Quebec City (Canada) with a doctorate degree in neurobiology. Dr. Grondin currently holds the academic position of Associate Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, in addition to fulfilling the role of Study Director for the University of Kentucky Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) Neuroscience Center. Dr. Grondin has been serving as scientific member on the University of Kentucky Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) since 2005.
My research interests include developping new treatment strategies for Huntington’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. One promising treatment approach is to use a technique known as RNA interference to silence the expression of genes of interest with the goal of potentially slowing or preventing disease progression. This can be acheived by using either adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors carrying short hairpin ribonucleic acid (shRNA) or small interfering RNA (siRNA) constructs designed to reduce production of target-specific proteins, such as huntingtin and alpha-synuclein. These compounds are delivered directly into brain regions affected by the disease process. These potentially disease-modifying therapies are studied in non-human primates and the effects of these experimental treatments are evaluated using a variety of methods, including behavioral, neurochemical and neuropathological methods.
Grondin, Ai, Hardy, Butt, Nelson, Lemmon, Bumcrot, Gash, Gerhardt, Zhang. Continuous intranigral infusion does not cause observable behavioral deficits or marked pathology in rhesus macaques. J. Neurosurg. (2016) May 27:1-10. [Epub ahead of print]; doi:10.3171/2016.2.JNS152295; PMID: 27231974
Grondin, Ge, Chen, Sutherland, Zhang, Gash, Stiles, Stewart, Sah, Kaemmerer. Onset time and durability of huntingtin suppression in the rhesus putamen after direct infusion of an anti-huntingtin siRNA. Mol. Ther. Nucleic Acids (2015) Jun 30;4:e245. doi: 10.1038/mtna.2015.20.PMID: 26125484
Pandya, Grondin, Yonutas, Haghnazar, Gash, Zhang, and Sullivan. Decreased mitochondrial bioenergetics and calcium buffering capacity in the basal ganglia correlates with motor deficits in a non-human primate model of aging.Neurobiol. Aging 36:1903-1913, (2015) [Epub 28Jan2015], doi:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2015.01.018. PMID: 25726361
Smith, Grondin, LeMaster, Martin, Gold, Ain. Reversible cognitive, motor and driving impairments in severe hypothyroidism. Thyroid 25(1):28-36, (2015) [Epub 8Nov2014], doi:10.1089/thy.2014.037, PMID: 25381990
Grondin, Kaytor, Ai, Nelson, Burright, Thakker, Heisel, Weatherspoon, Blum, Zhang, Kaemmerer. Six-month partial suppression of huntingtin is well tolerated in the adult rhesus striatum. Brain 135:1197-1209, (2012) [Epub 16Jan2012], PMID: 22252996
Blalock*, Grondin*, Chen, Thibault O., Thibault V., Pandya, Dowling, Zhang, Sullivan, Porter, Landfield. Age-related gene expression in hippocampus proper compared to dentate gyrus is selectively associated with metabolic syndrome variables in rhesus monkeys.J. Neurosci. 30(17):6058-6071, (2010). PMID: 20427664. *Co-first author
Grondin, Zhang, Ai, Slevin, Young, Gash, Gerhardt. Direct delivery of GDNF in the non-human primate and human parkinsonian brain: Success and road blocks. In: CNS regeneration: Basic science and clinical advances, Academic Press, (Kordower and Tuszynski, Eds), Second Edition; pp. 223-244 (2008).
Grondin, Zhang, Ai, Ding, Walton, Surgener, Gerhardt, Gash. Intraputamenal infusion of exogenous neurturin protein restores motor and dopaminergic function in the globus pallidus of MPTP-lesioned rhesus monkeys. Cell Transplant. 17(4):373-381, (2008). PMID: 18522240.
Walton, Scheib, Hall, Zhang, Grondin. Motor memory preservation in aged monkeys mirrors that of aged humans on a similar task. Neurobiol. Aging 29(10):1556-62 (2008). PMID: 17428582.
Cass*, Grondin*, Andersen, Zhang, Hardy, Hussey-Andersen, Rayens, Gerhardt, Gash. Iron accumulation in the striatum predicts age-related decline in motor function in rhesus monkeys. Neurobiol. Aging 28(2):258-71, (2007). PMID: 16442671. * Co-first author
Walton, Branham, Gash, Grondin. Automated video analysis of age-related motor deficits in monkeys using EthoVision. Neurobiol. Aging 27(10):1477-83, (2006). PMID: 16198447.
Grondin, Zhang, Ai, Gash, Gerhardt. Intracranial delivery of proteins and peptides as a therapy for neurodegenerative diseases. Prog. Drug Res. 61:101-123, (2003). PMID: 14674610.
Grondin, Cass, Zhang, Stanford, Gerhardt, Gash. GDNF Increases Stimulus-Evoked Dopamine Release and Motor Speed in Aged Rhesus Monkeys. J. Neurosci. 23(5):1974-1980, (2003). PMID: 12629203
Grondin, Zhang, Cass, Yi, Maswood, Andersen, Elsberry, Klein, Gerhardt, Gash. Chronic, controlled GDNF infusion promotes structural and functional recovery in advanced parkinsonian monkeys. Brain 125:2191-2201, (2002). PMID: 12244077.
Grondin, Zhang, Elsberry, Gerhardt, Gash. Chronic intracerebral delivery of trophic factors via a programmable pump as a treatment for parkinsonism. Methods Mol. Med. 62:257-267, (2001). PMID: 21318781
Grondin, Zhang, Gerhardt, Gash. Dopaminergic therapy improves upper limb motor performance in aged rhesus monkeys. Ann. Neurol. 48(2):250-253, (2000). PMID: 10939577.