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Biography

Rainald Schmidt-Kastner, M.D., serves as Associate Professor of Clinical Neuroscience. He holds an MD degree through thesis (neuroanatomy) from University of Duesseldorf and a research-teaching degree in physiology (Habilitation) from Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany. He serves as Course Director for Neuroscience and Behavior; teaches medical ¼ø»Æʦapp in neuroscience, neuroanatomy, physiology, embryology and macro-anatomy of internal organs; serves as facilitator for group teaching; and instructs graduate ¼ø»Æʦapp in integrated morphology. He serves as member of the editorial board for an international neuroscience journal and continues to perform scholarly activity in the area of brain ischemia-hypoxia.

Education

• 1992: Qualification to Lecture in Physiology and Evidence for Scholarly Research ("Habilitation" and "Privat-Dozent" - PD), Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany
• 1984: MD-Doktor der Medizin (Dr.med.) by thesis (summa cum laude), Medical Faculty, University of Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
• 1977-1983: Studies of Human Medicine, Medical Faculty, Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany, completed by "Staatsexamen" (National Exam in Medicine)

Work History

• 2011-Present: Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, ¼ø»Æʦapp, Boca Raton, Florida
• 2008-2011: Clinical Assistant Professor of Integrated Medical Science
• 2006-2008: Visiting Assistant Professor of Integrated Medical Science
• 2005-2006: Visiting Scholar, Scientist, College of Science, 2005-2006
• 2002-2004: Research Associate Professor, Dept. of Neurology, University of Miami School of Medicine
• 1997-2002: Research Assistant Professor, Dept. of Neurology, University of Miami School of Medicine
• 1994-1996: Visiting Scientist, Neuroscience Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
• 1990-1994: Visiting Scientist, Karolinska Institute, Depts. Clinical Neurophysiology, Histology-Neurobiology, and Neuroscience, Stockholm, Sweden
• 1987-1992: Scientific Assistant (postdoctoral), Ruhr-University Bochum, Dept. Neurophysiology, Germany
• 1983-1987: Scientific Assistant (postdoctoral), Max-Planck-Institute for Neurological Research, Cologne, Germany

Scholarly Activity

Research Interests

Brain ischemia and hypoxia; selective vulnerability of the hippocampus; status epilepticus; retinal ischemia; optic nerve atrophy; gene x hypoxia interactions in neurodevelopmental disorders and neurodegeneration; teaching tools in medical neuroscience

Peer-Reviewed Publications

• Hamper, M., Schmidt-Kastner, R. Sleep disorder Kleine-Levin Syndrome (KLS) joins the list of polygenic brain disorders associated with obstetric complications. Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology 43: 3393-3403, 2023Ìý
• Kravetz, Z., Schmidt-Kastner, R. New aspects for the brain in Hartnup disease based on mining of high-resolution cellular mRNA expression data for SLC6A19. IBRO Neuroscience Reports 14:393-397, 2023
• Schmidt-Kastner, R., Guloksuz, S., Kietzmann, T., van Os, J., Rutten, B.P.F. Analysis of GWAS-derived schizophrenia genes for links to ischemia-hypoxia response of the brain. Front Psychiatry 11:393, 2020. PMID: 32477182; doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00393.
• Schmidt-Kastner, R. Genomic approach to selective vulnerability of the hippocampus in brain ischemia-hypoxia. Neuroscience, 309: 259-279, 2015
• Schmidt-Kastner, R., van Os, J., Esquivel, G., Steinbusch, H.W.M., Rutten, B.P.F.Ìý An environmental analysis of genes associated with schizophrenia: hypoxia and vascular factors as interacting elements in the neurodevelopmental model. Molecular Psychiatry, 17 (12) 1194-1205, 2012 (Advance Online Publication, Jan. 31, 2012)
• Schmidt-Kastner, R., Kreczmanski, P., Preising, M., Diederen, R., Schmitz, C., Reis, D., Blanks, J., Dorey, C.K. Expression of the diabetes risk gene wolframin (WFS1) in the human retina. Experimental Eye Res. 89: 568-574 (June 12 Epub ahead of print), 2009.Ìý
• Schmidt-Kastner, R., Aguirre-Chen, C., Kietzmann, T., Saul, I., Busto, R., Ginsberg, M.D. Nuclear localization of the hypoxia-regulated pro-apoptotic protein BNIP3 after global brain ischemia in the rat hippocampus. Brain Res. 1001: 133-142, 2004Ìý
• Schmidt-Kastner, R., Truettner, J., Zhao, W., Saul, I., Busto, R., Ginsberg, M.D. Transient changes of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA expression in hippocampus during moderate ischemia induced by bilateral common carotid artery occlusions in the rat. Mol. Brain Res. 92: 157-166, 2001.
• Schmidt-Kastner, R., Truettner, J., Zhao, W., Belayev, L., Krieger, C., Busto, R., Ginsberg, M.D. Differential changes of bax, caspase-3 and p21 mRNA expression after transient focal brain ischemia in the rat. Mol. Brain Res.79: 88-101, 2000.
• Schmidt-Kastner, R., Fliss, H., Hakim, A.M. Subtle neuronal death in striatum after short forebrain ischemia in rat detected by in situ end-labelling for DNA damage. Stroke 28:Ìý 163-170, 1997.
• Wolf, H.K., Buslei, R., Schmidt-Kastner, R., Schmidt-Kastner, P.K., Pietsch, T., Wiestler, O.D., Blümcke, I. NeuN: A useful neuronal marker for diagnostic histopathology. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 44: 1167-1171, 1996.
• Schmidt-Kastner, R., Wetmore, C., Olson, L. Comparative study of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA and protein at the cellular level suggests multiple roles in hippocampus, striatum and cortex.Ìý Neuroscience 74: 161-183, 1996.
• Schmidt-Kastner, R., Freund, T.F. Selective vulnerability of the hippocampus in brain ischemia. Commentary. Neuroscience 40: 599-636, 1991

Teaching Interests

• neuroscience, neuroanatomy, anatomy and embryology of internal organs, physiology (GI, kidney)

Honors and Awards

• Heisenberg fellowship (1993-97), Dwight W.Warren Award for Excellence in Teaching (2007/08), 2014 Outstanding Course Director

Memberships

• FENS/NWG
• Member of the Editorial Board of "Neuroscience" (IBRO Journal), 2011-present