Education

Ph.D.  Neuroscience, University of Cagliari and University of Basel, 2016
Pharm. D.  University of Cagliari, 2012

Postdoctoral Fellowship  University of California San Diego, 2016-2022

Background

Dr. Porcu received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree at University of Cagliari, Italy. She then received her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from University of Cagliari and University of Basel, Switzerland. She performed her postdoctoral research training in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Diego. In 2020, Dr. Porcu received the K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award from the NIH-NCCIH to study the effect of light on amygdala plasticity and emotion-related behaviors.

Dr. Porcu started her appointment as Assistant Professor of Pharmacology at the University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy in June 2022. 

Research Interests

• Circadian rhythm
• Neurobiology
• Neuropharmacology
• Mouse behaviors
• Psychiatric disorders 

Research Lab

The Porcu Lab studies the role of environmental stimuli in modulating circadian rhythm, brain functions and behaviors. We use a combination of state-of-the-art methodologies from behavior to in vivo calcium imaging and circadian genes analysis in pre-clinical mouse models.

Our goal is to identify the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which environmental stimuli (i.e, light cycle disruption, stress) impact circadian rhythms and neuronal functions, and how alterations in these processes can lead to psychiatric disorders.

Lab website: https://www.porculab.com 

Awards & Honors

• K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award from NIH-NCCIH
• Best Poster Award at 10th Annual Center for Circadian Biology Symposium. San Diego, USA 
• Chancellor Research Excellence Scholarship, UC San Diego, California, USA 
• Best Speaker Award at Center for Circadian Biology Fall Workshop on Biological Timing, USA 
• Research Fellowship from Italian Society of Pharmacology and Merck & Co, Italy 
• Best Poster Award at 2nd Endocannabinoid Pharmacology Meeting, Switzerland 
• Graduate Fellowship from Banco di Sardegna Research Foundation, Italy 
• Erasmus Travel Grant Award from the European Union, UK 

Selected Publications

Bonilla P., Shanks A., Nerella Y., Porcu A. (2024) Effects of Chronic Light Cycle Disruption during Adolescence on Circadian Clock, Neuronal Activity Rhythms, and Behavior in Mice. Frontiers in Neuroscience. 18:1418694. 
 
Francis T.C. and Porcu A. (2023) Emotionally Clocked Out: Cell-type Specific Regulation of Mood and Anxiety by the Circadian Clock System in the Brain. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience 16:1188184  
 
Porcu A., Nilsson A., Booreddy S., Barnes S., Welsh D.K., Dulcis D. (2022) Seasonal changes in day length induce multi-synaptic neurotransmitter switching to regulate hypothalamic network activity and behavior. Science Advances 8.eabn9867. 
 
Porcu A., Mostallino R., Serra V., Melis M., Sogos V., Beggiato S., Ferraro L., Bettler B., Manetti F., Gianibbi B., Corelli F., Mugnaini C. and Castelli M.P. (2021) COR758, a Negative Allosteric Modulator of GABAB Receptors. Neuropharmacology 189:108537. 
 
Porcu A., Vaughan M., Nilsson A., Arimoto N., Lamia K., Welsh D.K. (2020) Vulnerability to helpless behavior is regulated by the circadian clock component CRYPTOCHROME in the mouse nucleus accumbens. PNAS 117(24):13771-13782. 
  
Porcu A., Gonzalez R., McCarthy M.J. (2019) Pharmacological manipulation of the circadian clock: a possible approach to the management of bipolar disorder. Review article, CNS drug journal 33:981-999.  
 
Porcu A., Riddle M., Dulcis D., Welsh D.K. (2018) Photoperiod-induced neuroplasticity in the circadian system. Review article, Neural Plasticity, 5147585.  
 
Porcu A., Melis M., Turecek R., Ullrich C., Mocci I., Bettler B., Gessa G.L., Castelli M.P. (2018) Rimonabant, the potent CB1 receptor antagonist, is a Gαi/o inhibitor. Neuropharmacology (133), 107-120.  
 
Porcu A., Lobina C., Giunta D., Solinas M., Mugnaini C., Corelli F., Castelli M.P. (2016) In vitro and in vivo pharmacological characterization of a novel GABAB positive allosteric modulator: SSD114. European Journal of Pharmacology (791), 115-123.  
 
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