Dr. Richard Costanzo
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Contact Information
Department of Physiology and Biophysics Virginia Commonwealth University P.O. Box 980551 Richmond, Virginia 23298-0551 Tel: 804-828-4774 Fax: 804-828-7382 email: rcostanz@vcu.edu |
Richard M. Costanzo completed his undergraduate work in Biology in at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook and received his Ph.D. in Neurophysiology from SUNY Upstate Medical Center. Dr. Costanzo took his postdoctoral training first at the Rockefeller University with Dr. Carl Pfaffmann, then spent two years in the department of Physiology at the New York University Medical School. He joined the VCU faculty in 1979.
Research
In our lab, we are investigating methods to promote regeneration, repair, and replacement of neurons in the mammalian nervous system. Currently, our focus is on the unique capacity of the olfactory system for continued neurogenesis and replacement of degenerating neurons. We study the process of degeneration following neuronal injury and as well as the mechanisms, capacity, and limits of subsequent neurogenesis and neuronal recovery. Our findings have shown that the newly replaced olfactory neurons are capable of reestablishing functional connections with target cells in the brain. We are also investigating the survival characteristics of olfactory stem cells when transplanted into different regions of the brain. Our research lab uses anatomical, molecular, electrophysiological, and behavioral techniques.
In addition to basic science research, we conduct clinical studies to investigate the recovery of olfactory function following head injury and other neurological diseases. This work is done in collaboration with the Departments of Neurosurgery, Neurology and Otolaryngology and is aimed at developing new strategies for repair or replacement of damaged neural pathways within the central nervous system.
Teaching
My teaching activities include graduate and undergraduate medical education. I lecture on sensory and motor systems physiology in graduate mammalian physiology courses and in the medical school M1 Neuroscience course. I also participate in the laboratory research training of medical students, graduate students and post doctoral fellows. I have been recognized for my teaching with the School of Medicine’s Faculty Teaching Excellence Award in 2003 and the Virginia Commonwealth University Distinguished Teaching Award in 2004.
Selected Publications
Costanzo RM, Perrino LA. Peak in matrix metalloproteinase-2 levels observed during recovery from olfactory nerve injury. NeuroReport 19: 327-331, 2008. PubMed
Schwob JE and Costanzo RM. Regeneration of the Olfactory Epithelium. In:The Senses: A Comprehensive Reference, Volume 4, Olfaction and Taste, edited by Smith DV, Firestein S and Beauchamp GK. New York: Academic Press, p. 591-612, 2008. ScienceDirect
Costanzo RM, Perrino LA, and Kobayashi M. Response of matrix metalloproteinase-9 to olfactory nerve injury. NeuroReport 17: 1787-1791, 2006. PubMed
Costanzo RM and Miwa T. Posttraumatic olfactory loss. Adv.Otorhinolaryngol. 63: 99-107, 2006. PubMed
Matsuoka M, Kaba H, Moriya K, Yoshida-Matsuoka J, Costanzo RM, Norita M and Ichikawa M. Remodeling of reciprocal synapses associated with persistence of long-term memory. Eur.J.Neurosci. 19: 6: 1668-1672, 2004. PubMed
Tsukatani T, Fillmore HL, Hamilton HR, Holbrook EH and Costanzo RM. Matrix metalloproteinase expression in the olfactory epithelium. NeuroReport 14: 8: 1135-1140, 2003. PubMed