Ana Andreazza

As a Professor at the University of Toronto, Andreazza demonstrated that there was increased mitochondrial dysfunction and redox modulations in the brain and blood cells of patients with mood disorders.^[3] She also used blood samples and advanced stem-cell technology to grow neurons and entire brains to investigate how mitochondrial weakness leads to disrupted neurotransmission and researching potential treatments.^[4] In 2016, Andreazza was named a Canada Research Chair in Molecular Pharmacology of Mood Disorders.^[5] Following this, she co-founded mitoNET with the MitoCanada Foundation "to provide clinicians with the tools and knowledge to assess mitochondrial health as part of routine care."^[6] In 2018, she was recognized as one of Canada's Top 40 Under 40 and later named Canada’s first chair to support research into mitochondrial research.^[7]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Andreazza applied her research into the acai berry extract’s effect as a possible anti-inflammatory therapy for mental health disorders towards the coronavirus. She began a trial involving acai pills and placebo pill with patients who had tested positive for COVID-19 and were isolated at home.^[8] As a result of her research into the effects of mitochondrial dysfunction on neurotransmission phenotypes, Andreazza was appointed to the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists.^[9]

• Ana Andreazza publications indexed by Google Scholar