Dr. George Johnson Dugbartey

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

• PhD in Pharmacology (University of Groningen, Netherlands)
• MSc in Neuroscience (University of Groningen, Netherlands)
• BSc in Human Biology (University of Cape Coast, Ghana)

Dr. George Johnson Dugbartey is currently a lecturer at the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Ghana. He obtained his MSc in Neuroscience and PhD in Pharmacology in 2010 and 2015 respectively at University of Groningen in The Netherlands. He further received a two-year Post-doctoral training in University of Rochester and University of Cincinnati in United States of America. He joined the University of Ghana in January 2018.

POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP

• 2016-2017    Postdoctoral Fellow, Division of Cardiology, The Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
• 2015-2016    Postdoctoral Associate, Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute,  Department of Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and                                        Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA

HONORS/AWARD

• 2014          Travel Award for Young Investigator, 17th World Congress of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology, South Africa
• 2011          Travel Award for Young Scientist, British Pharmacology Society, ondon, United Kingdom
• 2008          Eric Bluemink Scholarship, University of Groningen, Netherlands
• 2006          Kwegyir Aggrey Award (Excellence in Undergraduate Study), University of Cape Coast, Ghana

AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION

• Cardiovascular and Renal Pharmacology
• Molecular Toxicology

COURSES TAUGHT CURRENTLY

• Cardiovascular and Renal Pharmacology
• Experimental Pharmacology
• Endocrine Pharmacology
• Drug Resistance
• Toxicology

RESEARCH OVERVIEW

Understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms in the pathogenesis and progression of diabetic and hypertensive nephropathies and exploring alternative and novel avenues will expand therapeutic options and increase treatment efficacy, and thereby decrease morbidity and mortality associated with diabetes and hypertension. My current research focuses on mechanisms in diabetes and hypertension that affect kidney integrity and blood pressure.

RESEARCH PROJECTS

My laboratory research has two directions:

• We are currently working on a project that explores the role of glutathione-enhancing dietary supplement in type 2 diabetic mellitus and blood pressure. We recently reported that a dietary supplement containing the glutathione precursor molecule, ribociene (D-ribose-L-cysteine), effectively delivers cysteine into cells and enhances glutathione level. As overproduction of reactive oxygen species (and subsequent oxidative stress) is a major denominator among other molecular pathways in diabetic and hypertensive nephropathies, our research seeks to determine whether the glutathione-enhancing dietary supplement could attenuate these nephropathies via its antioxidant property.
• We study natural products including those of herbal origin (e.g. Hibiscus sabdariffa) and the mechanisms underlying their nephroprotective properties in type 1 diabetes mellitus.

MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY

• 2015-  Present: Trainee Member, American Heart Association (AHA)
• 2013-  Present: Member, European Network on Gasotransmitters (ENOG)
• 2012-  Present: Member, British Pharmacological Society (BPS)
• 2012-  Present: Member, Dutch Pharmacological Society (NVF)
• 2012-  Present: Member, Netherlands Federation for Nephrology (NFN)
• 2012-  Present: Member, European Society for Translational Medicine (EUSTM)

CONFERENCE PRESENTATION

• 2016       28th Annual Genetics Day, Rochester, USA (Poster)
• 2014       47th Annual Meeting of American Society of Nephrology, Philadelphia, USA (Talk)
• 2014      16th Edition of Dutch Medicine Days, Ede, Netherlands (Talk & poster)
• 2014       International Symposium on Gasotransmitters: Physiology & Pathophysiology, Kazan, Russia, (Talk)
• 2014      17th World Congress of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology, Cape Town, South  Africa (Poster)
• 2014      3rd International Conference on Nephrology & Therapeutics, Valencia Spain  (Talk)
• 2014      3rd International Conference on of Hydrogen Sulfide in Biology & Medicine, Kyoto Japan (2 posters)
• 2014      International Symposium on Hydrogen Sulfide and Nitric Oxide in Health & Disease, Naple, Italy
• 2014      2nd Benelux Congress on Physiology and Pharmacology, Maastricht, Netherlands (Talk)
• 2013      46th Annual Meeting of American Society of Nephrology, Atlanta, USA  (Poster)
• 2013     15th Edition of Dutch Medicine Days, Ede, Netherlands (Talk & poster)
• 2013     11th European Association of Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Geneva, Switzerland (Poster)
• 2012     British Pharmacological Society, London, United Kingdom (Talk)
• 2012     14th Edition of Dutch Medicines Days, Lunteren, Netherlands (Talk) 
• 2012     5th All Africa Congress on Basic & Clinical Pharmacology, Accra, Ghana (Talk)

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

1. N’guessan BB, Amponsah SK, Dugbartey GJ, Awuah KD, Dotse E, Aning A, Kukuia KKE, Asiedu-Gyekye IJ, Appiah-Oppong R. In vitro antioxidant potential and effect of a glutathione-enhancer dietary supplement on selected rat liver cytochrome P450 enzyme activity. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2018. 3: 1-8.
2. Dugbartey GJ, Bouma HR, Saha MN, Lobb I, Henning RH, Sener A. A hibernation-like state for transplantable organs: Is H2S therapy the future of organ preservation? Antioxid Redox Signal 2018. 28(16): 1503-1515.
3. Dugbartey GJ*, Redington AN. Prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy by limb ischemic preconditioning: Underlying mechanisms and clinical effects. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2018. 314(3): F319-F328.
4. Dugbartey GJ*. The smell of renal protection against chronic kidney disease – Hydrogen sulfide offers a potential stinky remedy. Pharmacol Rep 2017. 19;70(2): 196-205.
5. Dugbartey GJ, Hardenberg MC, Kok WF, Boerema AS, Carey HV, Staples JF, Henning RH, Bouma HR. Renal mitochondrial response to low temperature in hibernating and non-hibernating species. Antioxid Redox Signal 2017. 27(9): 599-617.
6. Dugbartey GJ*. H2S as a possible therapeutic alternative for the treatment of hypertensive kidney injury. Nitric Oxide 2017.  64: 52-60.
7. Dugbartey GJ*. Diabetic nephropathy: A potential savior with ‘rotten-egg’ smell. Pharmacological Reports 2017. 69(2): 331-339.
8. Dugbartey GJ*, Peppone LJ, de Graaf IAM. An integrative view of cisplatin-induced renal and cardiac toxicities: molecular mechanisms, current treatment challenges and potential protective measures. Toxicology 2016. 371: 58-66.
9. Dugbartey GJ*, Bouma HR, Lobb I, Sener A. Hydrogen sulfide: A novel ephroprotectant against cisplatin-induced renal toxicity. Nitric Oxide 2016.57: 15-20.
10. Dugbartey GJ, Talaei F, Houwertjes MC, Goris M, Epema AH, Bouma HR, Henning RH.  Dopamine treatment attenuates acute kidney injury in a rat model of deep hypothermia and rewarming – The role of renal H2S-producing enzymes. Eur J Pharmacol 2015. S0014-2999(15)30361-7.
11. Dugbartey GJ*, Bouma HR, Strijkstra AM, Boerema AS, Henning RH. Induction of a torpor-like state by 5’-AMP does not depend on H2S production. PLoS One 2015. 10(8).
12. de Vrij EL, Vogelaar P, Herwig A, Goris M, Houwertjes MC, Dugbartey GJ, Boerema AS, Strijkstra AM, Bouma HR, Henning RH. Platelet dynamics during natural and pharmacologically induced torpor.  PloS One 2014. 10;9(4).
13. Bouma HR, Dugbartey GJ, Boerema AS, Talaei F, Herwig A, Goris M, van Buiten A, Strijkstra AM, Carey HV, Henning RH, Kroese FGM. Reduction of body temperature governs neutrophil rentention in hibernating and non-hibernating animals by margination. J Leukoc Biol 2013. 94(3): 431-7.
14. Seidel K, Meister M, Dugbartey GJ, Zijlstra MP, Vinet J, Brunt ER, van Leeuwen FW, Rub U, Kampinga HH, den Dunnen WF. Cellular protein quality control and the evolution of aggregates in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3). Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2012. 38(6): 548-58.

*, Corresponding author