1. Violeta Ayvazyan, PhD
2. Gohar Mkrtchyan, PhD
3. Elina Arakelova, PhD
4. Roksana Zakharyan, PhD
5. Andranik Chavushyan, PhD
6. Varduhi Hayrapetyan, PhD
7. Gevorg Martirosyan, PhD
8. Ani Stepanyan, PhD
9. Hovsep Ghazaryan, PhD
10. Diana Avetyan
11. Ani Melkonyan
12. Anna Ayvazyan
13. Sofi Atshemyan

The research interests of the laboratory are focused on the study of genetic variability of genes involved in immune-neuroendocrine interactions in a number of polygenic complex human diseases including schizophrenia, posttraumatic stress disorder, ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, diabetes, etc. The overall aim of these studies is the elucidation of molecular and cellular etiopathomechanisms of complex diseases, the identification of vital molecular biomarkers and therapeutic targets, and discovery of new physiologically active compounds of potential therapeutic significance.

Complement lectin pathway regulators in human schizophrenia and ischemic stroke.

The overall objective of this project is to clarify the role of complement lectin pathway regulators, MASP-3, MAp19 and MAp44 in pathogenesis of SCZ and IS by investigating the potential association of their most informative genetic variants and blood levels with these disorders.

Schiff base cyclic amino acid derivatives for chemoprotection against damaging action of mycotoxins.

The aim of the project is to evaluate a potential ability of Schiff base cyclic amino acid derivatives including picolinyl-L-phenylalanine, picolinyl-L-tryptophan, nicotinyl-L-tryptophan to act against damaging effects of aflatoxin B1, ochratoxin A, and T2-toxin mycotoxins.

Study of synaptic plasticity regulating transcription factors in schizophrenia.

Alterations in synaptic plasticity (SP) are involved in schizophrenia pathogenesis. Molecular mechanisms of these alterations are unclear. A number of transcription factors, including Ier5, c-Fos, c-Jun, and AP-1 (complex of c-Fos and c-Jun), regulates SP. Present project aims to evaluate a functional state of mentioned transcription factors in schizophrenia. For this purpose, in schizophrenia patients and healthy subjects functional polymorphisms of Ier5, c-fos, and c-Jun encoding genes will be studied, blood levels of Ier5, c-fos, and AP-1 proteins will be determined and phenotype-genotype relationships will be assessed. The obtained results will elucidate molecular pathomechanisms of SP alterations in schizophrenia, enrich existing knowledge about genetic factors of schizophrenia, create base for development of methods for correction of SP.

Searching for schizophrenia biomarkers among the genes of synaptic proteins.

The overall aim of this project was to clarify the role of the nerve growth factor (NGF) and its receptor (NGFR) in the pathogenesis of SCZ by investigating the potential association of their most informative genetic variants and blood levels with this disorder.

1. Boyajyan A, Zakharyan R, Atshemyan S, Ghazaryan H. Chapter 5. Biopsychology of schizophrenia: novel molecular genetic markers of cognitive dysfunction. In: Advances in Psychology Research (Editor: A.M. Columbus), Nova Science Publishers Inc., USA, 2015, v. 110, pp. 69-124, ISBN: 978-1-63482-629-7.
2. Boyajyan A., Avetian D., Hovhannisyan L., Mkrtchyan G. Genetics of posttraumatic stress disorder: candidate genes and their implication in the disease-associated molecular pathomechanisms. In: A Fresh Look at Anxiety (Editor: F. Durbano), InTech, Croatia, 2015, pp.65-88. ISBN: 978-953-51-2149-7.
3. Tsakanova G., Arakelova E., Soghoyan A., Ayvazyan V. Oxidative Stress and Post-Ischemic Inflammatory Response in Ischemic Stroke Complicated with Diabetes Mellitus Type 2. Journal of Biosciences and Medicines, 2015, 3, 94-98.
4. Boyajyan A., Hovsepyan M., Arakelova E. & Tsakanova G. Neuroimmune alterations in diabetes: implications to molecular pathomechanisms of complications. In: Research on Diabetes II. iConcept Press Ltd., USA, 2014.
5. Stepanyan A., Zakharyan R., Boyajyan A. The netrin G1 gene rs628117 polymorphism is associated with ischemic stroke. Neuroscience Letters 2013, 549:74-77.

1. Ayvazyan V., Boyadjyan A. A method of obtaining schizophrenia research model. // (2009), Patent # AM20090061, G09B 23/00.
2. Avetisyan A., Alexanyan I., Durgaryan V., Lvov M., Boyajyan A., Hovsepyan L. Hydrochloric salts of 2-(1-chlor-1-bromoethyl)-4-methyl-2,3- dihydrofuro[3,2-c] quinoline derivants demonstrating antiarrythmic and antianginal activity. // (2008), Patent # AM20080211, C07D 491/00.
3. Boyadjyan A., Khoyetsyan A., Arakelyan A. Method for schizophrenia diagnostics. // (2009), Patent # AM20090059, G01N 33/48.