George A. Ricaurte
Encyclopedia
George A. Ricaurte is a controversial neurology
researcher who works at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
in the Department of Neurology. He received his MD from Northwestern University Medical School and his Ph.D. (Pharmacology) from the University of Chicago
.
His research focuses on Parkinson's disease
and other movement disorders. His work centers on amphetamine
-type stimulants and their potential to damage brain monoamine-containing neurons. Dr Ricaurte is best known for a body of work examining the mechanisms by which methamphetamine damages dopamine
neurons (which degenerate in Parkinson’s disease) and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) damages serotonin 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 the drug abuse field and substance abuse neuropsychiatric disorders.
He is best known in the drug advocacy community for his retracted article on the neurotoxicity of ecstasy
, originally published in Science
. This article was retracted after it was found that the testing materials were switched from MDMA to methamphetamine. It is unknown whether the materials were switched intentionally, whether it was an accident of Ricaurte, or whether the supplier from Research Triangle Park (which was overseen by the DEA) either switched the test materials accidentally or intentionally. All sides deny responsibility and the results of an investigation are still pending. Rick Doblin, director and founder of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies
, suggested after the incident that all Ricaurte's work was politically motivated and should be reevaluated.
Neurology
Neurology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Specifically, it deals with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of disease involving the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems, including their coverings, blood vessels, and all effector tissue,...
researcher who works at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine , located in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S., is the academic medical teaching and research arm of Johns Hopkins University. Hopkins has consistently been the nation's number one medical school in the amount of competitive research grants awarded by the National...
in the Department of Neurology. He received his MD from Northwestern University Medical School and his Ph.D. (Pharmacology) from the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
.
His research focuses on Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
and other movement disorders. His work centers on amphetamine
Amphetamine
Amphetamine or amfetamine is a psychostimulant drug of the phenethylamine class which produces increased wakefulness and focus in association with decreased fatigue and appetite.Brand names of medications that contain, or metabolize into, amphetamine include Adderall, Dexedrine, Dextrostat,...
-type stimulants and their potential to damage brain monoamine-containing neurons. Dr Ricaurte is best known for a body of work examining the mechanisms by which methamphetamine damages dopamine
Dopamine
Dopamine is a catecholamine neurotransmitter present in a wide variety of animals, including both vertebrates and invertebrates. In the brain, this substituted phenethylamine functions as a neurotransmitter, activating the five known types of dopamine receptors—D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5—and their...
neurons (which degenerate in Parkinson’s disease) and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) damages serotonin 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 the drug abuse field and substance abuse neuropsychiatric disorders.
He is best known in the drug advocacy community for his retracted article on the neurotoxicity of ecstasy
Retracted article on neurotoxicity of ecstasy
"Severe dopaminergic neurotoxicity in primates after a common recreational dose regimen of MDMA' ", was a paper by Dr. George Ricaurte which was published in the leading journal Science, and later retracted....
, originally published in Science
Science (journal)
Science is the academic journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and is one of the world's top scientific journals....
. This article was retracted after it was found that the testing materials were switched from MDMA to methamphetamine. It is unknown whether the materials were switched intentionally, whether it was an accident of Ricaurte, or whether the supplier from Research Triangle Park (which was overseen by the DEA) either switched the test materials accidentally or intentionally. All sides deny responsibility and the results of an investigation are still pending. Rick Doblin, director and founder of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies
Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies
The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies is a membership-based 501 non-profit research and educational organization working to develop psychedelics and marijuana into legal prescription drugs...
, suggested after the incident that all Ricaurte's work was politically motivated and should be reevaluated.
External links
- Official Curriculum Vitae (PDF)
- Critical account of research on MDMA - includes reference to Ricaurte's work