BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Academic & Professional Background

• M.D. 1939 - J. Pilsudski University, Warsaw, Poland
• M.A. (Zoology) 1941 - Columbia University, New York, New York
• Ph.D.(Biophysics) 1946 - Columbia University, New York, New York

Current Research Interests

• Aging
• Drug Development
• Neurosciences: Physiological and Developmental Pharmacology of Peripheral and Central Cholinergic Systems
• Pharmacology of Aging and Alzheimer's Disease
• Pharmacology and Toxicology of Carbamate and Organophosphorus Anticholinesterases
• Physiology and Pharmacology of Transmitter and Trophic Systems

Selected Publications

Karczmar AG. Sir John Eccles, 1903-1997 Part I. Perspectives in Biology and Medicine 44:76-86, 2001.

Karczmar AG. When neruopsychopharmacology was news to me and thereafter: Comments of a "cholinergiker". In: The Rise of Psychopharmacology and The Story of CINP. Bam TA, Healy D, Shorter E. (Eds) pp. 294-298, 1999.

Karczmar AG. Conclusions and comments Tenth International Symposium on Cholinergic Mechanisms. J Physiol (Paris) 92:393-400, 1998.

Karczmar AG. Anticholinesterases: Dramatic aspects of their use and misuse. Neurochem Int 32:401-411, 1998.

Karczmar AG. Loewi's discovery and the XXI Century. In: Cholinergic Mechanisms: From Molecular Biology to Clinical Significance. Loffelholz K (Ed.). Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1996.

Karczmar AG. Cholinergic substrates of cognition and organism-environment interaction. Prog Neuro-Phychopharmacol and Biol Psychiat 19:187-211, 1995.

Karczmar AG. Brief presentation of the story and present status of the vertebrate cholinergic system. Neuropsychopharmacol 9:181-199, 1993.

Karczmar AG. Comments to session on electrophysiological aspects of cholinergic mechanisms. In: Cholinergic Function and Dysfunction. Cuell AE (Ed.), Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1993.

Karczmar AG. SDAT models and their dynamics. In: Cholinergic Basis for Alzheimer Therapy. Becker R, Giacobini E (Eds.), Birkhauser, Boston, pp 141-152, 1991.

Karczmar AG. Physiological cholinergic functions in the CNS. In: Cholinergic Neurotransmission. Aquilonius SM, Gilberg PG (Eds.), Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 437-466, 1990.

Costa E, Karczmar AG, Vesell ES, Bernard B. Brodie and the rise of clinical pharmacology. Ann Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 29:1-21, 1989.

Karczmar AG. Schizophrenia and the cholinergic system. In: Receptors and Ligands in Psychiatry. Sen AK, Lea T (Eds.), Cambridge University Press, pp 29-63, 1988.

Karczmar AG, Dun N. Effects of anticholinesterases pertinent for SDAT treatment but not necessarily underlying their clinical effectiveness. In: Current Research in Alzheimer Therapy. Giacobini E, Becker RI (Eds.), Taylor & Francis, NY, pp 15-30, 1988.

Karczmar AG, Koketsu K, Nishi S (Eds.), Autonomic and Enteric Ganglia. Plenum Press, NY, 1986.

Karczmar AG. Central action of acetylcholine, cholinomimetics and related drugs. In: Biology of Cholinergic Function. Goldberg AM, Hanin I (Eds.), pp 395-449, Raven Press, NY, 1976.

Karczmar AG (Ed.), Anticholinesterase Agents. Internatl. Encyclopedia of Pharmacol and Therap, Section 13, Pergamon Press, 1970.

Projects Completed or Active (Selected)

• Definition of Cholinergic Actions at Peripheral and Central Sites
• Definition of Behavioral and Mental Effects of Cholinergic Agents
• Cholinergic Effects on Aging
• Workshops on Action of Anticholinesterases and War Gases
• Activity of Preganglionic Neurons
• Behavioral Treatment of Aging

Research Funding Sources

• Ballweber Foundation
• National Institutes of Health
• U.S. Department of Defense

Research Methods Employed

• EEG and Power Spectrum Analysis
• Evaluation and Measurement of Receptors
• Measurement of Anticholinesterase Action
• Measurement of Levels and Turnover of Neurotransmitters
• Measurement of Synaptic Ganglionic, Neuromyal and CNS Transmission

Professional Accomplishments

• 1997 - Member, IHSI, Workshop on Organophosphorus Insecticides, Washington, D.C.
• 1987-present - Consultant to the Surgeon General USA
• 1985-present - Consultant, USA Department of Defense and Institute of Biological Sciences
• 1978-1979 - Member, IBRO Workshop, Warsaw, Poland
• 1968-1986 - Member, Study Groups, NIH

Honors

• 1996 - Outstanding Performance Award, Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital
• 1994 - Otto Loeui Lecturer, Guttenberg University, Mainz, Germany
• 1989 - Citation, Alzheimers Foundation
• 1987 - Senior Scholar, Fulbright Foundation
• 1980 - Honorary Professor, Kurume University, Japan
• 1978-1979 - Guggenheim Fellow
• 1976-present - Organizer and Participant, International Cholinergic Meetings
• 1975 - Otto Schmidt Lecturer, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• 1975 - Sorbonne Professorial Lecturer, Paris
• 1974 - Visiting Professor, INSERM, Paris
• 1969 - Charter Fellow, Sherringtonian Society
• 1968 - Visiting Professor, University of Laval, Quebec