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Beate Ritz

Beate Ritz, M.D., Ph.D.

Biography

Beate Ritz joined the faculty of the School of Public Health at UCLA in 1995 and is currently Professor and Vice Chair of the Epidemiology Department and holds co-appointments in the Environmental Health department at the UCLA School of Public Health and in Neurology, UCLA School of Medicine; she is a member of the Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (COEH), the Southern California Environmental Health Science Center (SCEHSC), and co-directs the NIEHS-funded UCLA Center for Gene-Environment Studies of Parkinson’s disease.

Dr. Ritz received her MD and a PhD in Medical Sociology from the University of Hamburg Germany in 1983 and 1987; she was a research fellow and resident at the Psychiatric University-Hospital in Hamburg from 1987-1989, and received doctoral training and a PhD degree in Epidemiology in 1995 from UCLA.

Her research focuses on the health effects of occupational and environmental toxins such as pesticides, ionizing radiation, and air pollution on chronic diseases including neurodegenerative disorders (Parkinson’s disease), cancers, and adverse birth outcomes and asthma. She previously investigated the causes of cancer in chemical toxin and radiation exposed workers and assessed the impact of ergonomic work-place factors on musculo-skeletal disorders. For the past decade, she studied the effects of air pollution on adverse birth outcomes as well as asthma in children in Southern California. In 2006, she received the Robert M Zweig Memorial award for outstanding achievement in air quality and medicine from the South Coast Air Quality Management District. She also spend the past 15 years investigating the long-term effects of pesticide exposures on Parkinson’s disease and cancers and is currently conducting a project to implement a Parkinson’s disease registry required by a new law in California.

In her research she uses geographic information system (GIS) modeling of environmental exposures including pesticide use and traffic related air pollution in California and investigates links between genetic susceptibility factors and environmental exposures in populations. She is directing and collaborating in a large number of federally (NIH, DOD), state (California Air Resources Board), and foundation (Michael J Fox Foundation) funded research projects.

Publications

A selected list of publications:

Manthripragada A, Cockburn M, Costello S, Bronstein J, Ritz B.   Paraoxonase-1 gene Leu-Met 55 polymorphism may modify the estimated effects of agricultural organophosphate exposure on Parkinson’s disease. In Press: Epidemiology, , 2009; .
Ritz–Publications PD Gatto N   Cockburn M, Bronstein J, Ritz B. Well Water Consumption and Parkinson’s Disease in Rural California. , In Press EHP , 2009; .
Costello Sadie, Cockburn Myles, Bronstein Jeff, Zhang Xinbo, Ritz Beate   Parkinson’s disease and residential exposure to maneb and paraquat from agricultural applications in the central valley of California American journal of epidemiology, 2009; 169(8): 919-26.
Rhodes Shannon L, Ritz Beate   Genetics of iron regulation and the possible role of iron in Parkinson’s disease Neurobiology of disease, 2008; 32(2): 183-95.
Ritz B, Rull R   Assessment of Environmental Exposures from Agricultural Pesticides in Childhood Leukemia Studies: Challenges and Opportunities, In Press: Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 2008; .
Rhodes SL, Ritz B   Genetics of Iron Regulation and the Possible Role of Iron in Parkinson’s Disease, In Press: Neurobiology of Disease, 2008; .
Rugbjerg K, Ritz B, Korbo L, Martinussen N, Olsen JH   Risk for Parkinson’s Disease After Hospitalization for a Head Injury: A Population-Based Case-Control Study, In Press: BMJ, 2008; .
Wahner AD, Bronstein JF, Bordelon YM, Ritz B   Statin Use and the Risk of Parkinson’s Disease, Neurology, 2008; 70(16 pt. 2): 1418-22.
Wahner Angelika D, Bronstein Jeff M, Bordelon Yvette M, Ritz Beate   Statin use and the risk of Parkinson disease Neurology, 2008; 70(16 Pt 2): 1418-22.
Goldberg Daniel W, Wilson John P, Knoblock Craig A, Ritz Beate, Cockburn Myles G   An effective and efficient approach for manually improving geocoded data International journal of health geographics, 2008; 7(2): 60.
Rugbjerg Kathrine, Ritz Beate, Korbo Lise, Martinussen Nick, Olsen Jørgen H   Risk of Parkinson’s disease after hospital contact for head injury: population based case-control study BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 2008; 337(2): a2494.
Krishnadasan A, Kennedy N, Zhao Y, Morgenstern H, Ritz B   Nested Case-Control Study of Occupational Physical Activity and Prostate Cancer Among Workers Using a Job Exposure Matrix, Cancer Causes Control, 2008; 1: 107-14.
Ritz B, Wilhelm M, Hoggatt KJ, Ghosh JKC   Ambient Air Pollution and Preterm Birth in the UCLA Environment and Pregnancy Outcomes Study, American journal of industrial medicine, 2007; 166(9): 1045-52.
Wahner Angelika D, Bronstein Jeff M, Bordelon Yvette M, Ritz Beate   Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may protect against Parkinson disease Neurology, 2007; 69(19): 1836-42.
Ritz Beate, Ascherio Alberto, Checkoway Harvey, Marder Karen S, Nelson Lorene M, Rocca Walter A, Ross G Webster, Strickland Daniel, Van Den Eeden Stephen K, Gorell Jay   Pooled analysis of tobacco use and risk of Parkinson disease Archives of neurology, 2007; 64(7): 990-7.
Rempel DM, Wang PC, Janowitz I, Harrison RJ, Yu F, Ritz B   A Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating the Effects of New Task Chairs on Shoulder and Neck Pain Among Sewing Machine Operators: The Los Angeles Garment Study, Spine, 2007; 32(9): 931-38.
Karr C, Lumley T, Shepherd K, Davis R, Larson T, Ritz B, Kaufman J   Effect of Subchronic and Chronic Exposure to Ambient Air Pollutants on Infant Bronchiolitis, Am J Epidemiol, 2007; 165(5): 553-60.
Lewis C, Suffet HI, Hoggatt KJ, Ritz B   Estimated Effects of Disinfection By-Products on Preterm Birth in a Population Served by a Single Water Utility, Environmental Health Perspectives, 2007; 115(2): 290-5.
Wahner AD, Glatt CE, Bronstein JF, Ritz B.   Glutathione S-Transferase Mu, Omega, Pi, And Theta Class Variants And Smoking In Parkinson’s Disease. Neurosci Lett. 2007 Feb 21;413(3):274-8, , 2007; .
Wahner AD, Glatt CE, Bronstein JF, Ritz B   Glutathione S-Transferase Mu, Omega, Pi, and Theta Class Variants and Smoking in Parkinson’s Disease, Neurosci Lett. Perspect, 2007; 413(3): 274-8.
Wahner AD, Sinsheimer JS, Bronstein JF, Ritz B   Inflammatory Cytokine Gene Polymorphisms Increase Risk of Parkinson’s Disease, Arch Neurol, 2007; 64(6): 836-40.
Krishnadasan A, Kennedy N, Zhao Y, Morgenstern H, Ritz B   Nested Case- Control Study of Occupational Chemical Exposures and Prostate Cancer in Aerospace and Radiation Worker, American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 2007; 50(5): 383-90.
Wahner AD, Bronstein JF, Bordelon YM, Ritz B   Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs May Protect Against Parkinson’s Disease, Neurology, 2007; 69(19): 1836-42.
Ritz B, Ascherio A, Checkoway H, Marder KS, Nelson LM, Rocca WA, Ross GW, Strickland D, Van Den Eeden SK, Gorell J   Pooled Analysis of Tobacco Use and Risk of Parkinson’s Disease, Archives of Neurology, 2007; 64(7): 990-7.
Mengy YY, Wilhelm M, Rull R, English P, Ritz B   Traffic and Outdoor Air Pollution Levels Near REsidences and Poorly-Controlled Asthma in Adults, Ann Asthma, Allergy, Immunol, 2007; 98(5): 455-63.
Wahner Angelika D, Sinsheimer Janet S, Bronstein Jeff M, Ritz Beate   Inflammatory cytokine gene polymorphisms and increased risk of Parkinson disease Archives of neurology, 2007; 64(6): 836-40.
Wang PC, Rempel D, Harrison R, Chan J, Ritz B   Work-Organizational and Personal Factors Associated with Upper Body Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Sewing Machine Operators Occupational Environmental Medicine, 2007; .
Elbaz Alexis, Nelson Lorene M, Payami Haydeh, Ioannidis John P A, Fiske Brian K, Annesi Grazia, Carmine Belin Andrea, Factor Stewart A, Ferrarese Carlo, Hadjigeorgiou Georgios M, Higgins Donald S, Kawakami Hideshi, Krüger Rejko, Marder Karen S, Mayeux Richard P, Mellick George D, Nutt John G, Ritz Beate, Samii Ali, Tanner Caroline M, Van Broeckhoven Christine, Van Den Eeden Stephen K, Wirdefeldt Karin, Zabetian Cyrus P, Dehem Marie, Montimurro Jennifer S, Southwick Audrey, Myers Richard M, Trikalinos Thomas A   Lack of replication of thirteen single-nucleotide polymorphisms implicated in Parkinson’s disease: a large-scale international study Lancet neurology, 2006; 5(11): 917-23.
Ritz Beate, Costello Sadie   Geographic model and biomarker-derived measures of pesticide exposure and Parkinson’s disease Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2006; 1076(11): 378-87.
Ritz B, Zhao Y, Krishnadasan A, Kennedy N, Morgenstern H   Estimated Effects of Hydrazine Exposure on Cancer Incidence and Mortality in Aerospace Workers, Epidemiology, 2006; 17(2): 154-61.
Ritz B, Costello S   Geographic Model and Biomarker-Derived Measures of Pesticide Exposure and Parkinson’s Disease, Ann NY Academy Sci, 2006; 1076: 378-87.
Elbaz A, Nelson LM, Ritz B, et al   Lack of Replication of Thirteen Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms Implicated in Parkinson’s Disease: A Large-Scale International Study, Lancet Neurol, 2006; 5(11): 917-23.
Schernhammer Eva, Chen Honglei, Ritz Beate   Circulating melatonin levels: possible link between Parkinson’s disease and cancer risk? Cancer causes & control : CCC, 2006; 17(4): 577-82.
Glatt Charles E, Wahner Angelika D, White Daniel J, Ruiz-Linares Andres, Ritz Beate   Gain-of-function haplotypes in the vesicular monoamine transporter promoter are protective for Parkinson disease in women Human molecular genetics, 2006; 15(2): 299-305.
Kang Gail A, Bronstein Jeff M, Masterman Donna L, Redelings Matthew, Crum Jarrod A, Ritz Beate   Clinical characteristics in early Parkinson’s disease in a central California population-based study Movement disorders : official journal of the Movement Disorder Society, 2005; 20(9): 1133-42.
Ritz B, Tager I, Balmes J   Can Lessons from Public Health Disease Surveillance be Applied to Environmental Public Health Tracking?, Environmental Health Perspectives, 2005; 113(3): 243-9.
Rull Ru, Ritz B   Historical Pesticide Exposure in California Using Pesticide Use Reports and Land-Use Surveys: An Assessment of Misclassification Error and Bias, Environmental Health Perspectives, 2003; 111(13): 1582-9.
Wilhelm M, Ritz B   Residential Proximity to Traffic and Adverse Birth Outcomes in Los Angeles County, California, 1994-1996, Environmental Health Perspectives, 2003; 111(2): 207-16.
Ritz B, Yu F, Chapa G, Fruin S, Shaw G, Harris J   Ambient Air Pollution and Birth Defects, Am J Epidemiol, 2002; 155: 17-25.
Jacob B, Ritz B, Gehring U, Koch A, Bischof W, Wichmann HE, Heinrich J for the INGA-Study group   Indoor Exposure to Molds and Allergic Sensitization, Environmental Health Perspectives, 2002; 110(7): 647-53.
Morgenstern H, Ritz B   Effects of Low-Level Ionizing Radiation and Chemical Exposures on Cancer Mortality in Nuclear and Aerospace Workers: Findings from the UCLA Rocketdyne Study, Occupational Medicine, 2001; 16(2): 219-37.
Ritz B, Yu F, Chapa G, Fruin S   Effect of Air Pollution on Preterm Birth Among Children Born in Southern California Between 1989 and 1993, Epidemiology, 2000; 11: 502-11.
Ritz B, Yu F   Parkinson’s Disease Mortality And Pesticide Exposure in California 1984-1994, International Journal of Epidemiology, 2000; 29: 323-9.
Ritz B, Yu F.   Parkinson’s Disease Mortality And Pesticide Exposure In California 1984 1994. International Journal of Epidemiology, 2000, Vol. 29:323-329, , 2000; .
Ritz B, Morgenstern H, Crawford-Brown D, Young B   The Effects of Internal Radiation Exposure on Cancer Mortality in Nuclear Workers at Rocketdyne/Atomics International, Environmental Health Perspectives, 2000; 108: 743-51.
Felix E. Schweizer, Ph.D.

Felix Schweizer, Ph.D.

Biography

Felix E. Schweizer was born in Basel, Switzerland and conducted his graduate research in the laboratory of Prof. Max M. Burger under the direction of Dr. Theo Schafer. He received his PhD degree in biochemistry summa cum laude from the University of Basel in 1989. From 1990 to 1994, he was a post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology at Stanford University in the laboratory of Prof. Richard W. Tsien. From 1994 to 1998, he was postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Neurobiology at Duke University in the laboratory of Professor George J. Augustine. Dr. Schweizer joined the Department of Neurobiology in the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA in 1998 as Assistant Professor and was promoted to Full Professor in 2010. Dr. Schweizer’s research interests concern the molecular mechanisms by which neurons communicate, the regulation of communication by neurons and how alterations in neuronal communication might contribute to neuronal diseases. The Schweizer laboratory uses electrophysiological and optical tools to investigate the dynamic molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of neurotransmitter release. We are particularly interested in the role of protein ubiquitination in regulating neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission. In collaboration with Dr. James Wohlschlegel, we used multiplexed SILAC and identified synaptic proteins that are dynamically regulated. More recently, in collaboration with Dr. David Krantz, we are using pesticides linked to neuro-degenerative disorders as unbiased tools identify novel pathways that might be involved in early signs of degeneration. In addition, we are characterizing transmission at the first synapse of the vestibular system, i.e. between utricular sensory hair cells and primary afferent neurons. In collaboration with Dr. Larry Hoffman we are finding that changing the gravitational load alters synaptic structures. We are now using serial EM and EM tomography in addition to physiology and cell biology to define in more detail the transfer function between head-movement input and afferent nerve-firing output.

Igor Spigelman, Ph.D.

Igor Spigelman, Ph.D.

Publications

A selected list of publications:

Shen Yi, Lindemeyer A Kerstin, Spigelman Igor, Sieghart Werner, Olsen Richard W, Liang Jing   Plasticity of GABAA receptors after ethanol pre-exposure in cultured hippocampal neurons Molecular pharmacology, 2011; 79(3): 432-42.
Ruangsri Supanigar, Lin Audrey, Mulpuri Yatendra, Lee Kyung, Spigelman Igor, Nishimura Ichiro   RELATIONSHIP OF AXONAL VOLTAGE-GATED SODIUM CHANNEL 1.8 (NaV1.8) mRNA ACCUMULATION TO SCIATIC NERVE INJURY-INDUCED PAINFUL NEUROPATHY IN RATS The Journal of biological chemistry, 2011; .
Suryanarayanan Asha, Liang Jing, Meyer Edward M, Lindemeyer A Kerstin, Chandra Dev, Homanics Gregg E, Sieghart Werner, Olsen Richard W, Spigelman Igor   Subunit Compensation and Plasticity of Synaptic GABA(A) Receptors Induced by Ethanol in ?4 Subunit Knockout Mice Frontiers in neuroscience, 2011; 5(3): 110.
Díaz-Cintra Sofia, Xue Baogang, Spigelman Igor, Van K, Wong Alan M, Obenaus Andre, Ribak Charles E   Dentate granule cells form hilar basal dendrites in a rat model of hypoxia-ischemia Brain research, 2009; 1285: 182-7.
Thakor Devang Kashyap, Lin Audrey, Matsuka Yoshizo, Meyer Edward M, Ruangsri Supanigar, Nishimura Ichiro, Spigelman Igor   Increased peripheral nerve excitability and local NaV1.8 mRNA up-regulation in painful neuropathy Molecular pain, 2009; 5(1): 14.
Ribak Charles E, Shapiro Lee A, Perez Zachary D, Spigelman Igor   Microglia-associated granule cell death in the normal adult dentate gyrus Brain structure & function, 2009; .
Matsuka Yoshizo, Ono Takeshi, Iwase Hirotate, Mitrirattanakul Somsak, Omoto Kevin S, Cho Ting, Lam Yan Yan N, Snyder Bradley, Spigelman Igor   Altered ATP release and metabolism in dorsal root ganglia of neuropathic rats Molecular pain, 2008; 4(1): 66.
Jain Naveen K, Ishikawa Tomo-o, Spigelman Igor, Herschman Harvey R   COX-2 expression and function in the hyperalgesic response to paw inflammation in mice Prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and essential fatty acids, 2008; 79(6): 183-90.
Liang Jing, Suryanarayanan Asha, Chandra Dev, Homanics Gregg E, Olsen Richard W, Spigelman Igor   Functional consequences of GABAA receptor alpha 4 subunit deletion on synaptic and extrasynaptic currents in mouse dentate granule cells Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research, 2008; 32(1): 19-26.
Chandra Dev, Werner David F, Liang Jing, Suryanarayanan Asha, Harrison Neil L, Spigelman Igor, Olsen Richard W, Homanics Gregg E   Normal acute behavioral responses to moderate/high dose ethanol in GABAA receptor alpha 4 subunit knockout mice Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research, 2008; 32(1): 10-8.
Mitrirattanakul Somsak, López-Valdés Héctor E, Liang Jing, Matsuka Yoshizo, Mackie Ken, Faull Kym F, Spigelman Igor   Bidirectional alterations of hippocampal cannabinoid 1 receptors and their endogenous ligands in a rat model of alcohol withdrawal and dependence Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research, 2007; 31(5): 855-67.
Liang Jing, Suryanarayanan Asha, Abriam Alana, Snyder Bradley, Olsen Richard W, Spigelman Igor   Mechanisms of reversible GABAA receptor plasticity after ethanol intoxication The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 2007; 27(45): 12367-77.
Thakor Devang, Spigelman Igor, Tabata Yasuhiko, Nishimura Ichiro   Subcutaneous peripheral injection of cationized gelatin/DNA polyplexes as a platform for non-viral gene transfer to sensory neurons Molecular therapy : the journal of the American Society of Gene Therapy, 2007; 15(12): 2124-31.
Liang, J., Zhang, N., Cagetti, E. Houser, C.R., Olsen, R.W. and Spigelman, I.   Chronic intermittent ethanol treatment-induced switch of ethanol actions from extrasynaptic to synaptic hippocampal GABAA receptors, Journal of Neuroscience, 2006; 26: 1749-1758.
Liang Jing, Zhang Nianhui, Cagetti Elisabetta, Houser Carolyn R, Olsen Richard W, Spigelman Igor   Chronic intermittent ethanol-induced switch of ethanol actions from extrasynaptic to synaptic hippocampal GABAA receptors The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 2006; 26(6): 1749-58.
Chandra, D., Jia, F., Liang, J., Peng, Z., Suryanarayanan, A., Werner, D.F., Spigelman, I., Houser, C.R., Olsen, R.W., Harrison, N.L. and Homanics, G.E.   GABA(A) receptor alpha4 subunits mediate extrasynaptic inhibition in thalamus and dentate gyrus and the action of gaboxadol, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, 2006; 103: 15230-15235.
Spigelman, I.   Physiologic mechanisms of inhibition and status epilepticus, In: Status Epilepticus, Mechanisms and Management, C.G. Wasterlain and D.M. Treiman editors, MIT Press, Cambridge,, 2006; Chapter 21: 281-293.
Mitrirattanakul Somsak, Ramakul Navapoln, Guerrero Andre V, Matsuka Yoshizo, Ono Takeshi, Iwase Hirotate, Mackie Ken, Faull Kym F, Spigelman Igor   Site-specific increases in peripheral cannabinoid receptors and their endogenous ligands in a model of neuropathic pain Pain, 2006; 126(1-3): 102-14.
Olsen, R.W., Liang, J., Cagetti, E., and Spigelman, I.   Plasticity of GABAA receptors in brains of rats treated with chronic intermittent ethanol , Neurochemical Research, 2005; 30: 1579-1588.
Matsuka Y. and Spigelman, I.   Hyperosmolar solutions selectively block action potentials in rat myelinated sensory fibers: implications for diabetic neuropathy, Journal of Neurophysiology, 2004; 91: 48-56.
Matsuka, Y Neubert, JK Maidment, NT Spigelman, I   Concurrent release of ATP and substance P within guinea pig trigeminal ganglia in vivo Brain research. , 2001; 915(2): 248-55.
Spigelman, I., Gold, M.S., Light A.R.   Electrophysiological Methods in Pain Research, Methods in Pain Research, 2001; Chapter 8: 147-168.
Spigelman, I., Neubert, J.K., Matsuka, Y., Maidment, N.T.   Extracellular Sampling, Methods in Pain Research, 2001; Chapter 7: 133-146.
Neubert, JK Maidment, NT Matsuka, Y Adelson, DW Kruger, L Spigelman, I   Inflammation-induced changes in primary afferent-evoked release of substance P within trigeminal ganglia in vivo Brain research. , 2000; 871(2): 181-91.
Spigelman, I Yan, XX Obenaus, A Lee, EY Wasterlain, CG Ribak, CE   Dentate granule cells form novel basal dendrites in a rat model of temporal lobe epilepsy Neuroscience. , 1998; 86(1): 109-20.
Spigelman, I Obenaus, A Mazarati, A Wasterlain, CG   Intravenously administered cell-permeant calcium buffer decreases evoked synaptic potentials in rat dentate gyrus in vivo Brain research. , 1998; 810(1-2): 269-73.
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