Dr. Katarina Leão: Pioneering psychedelic research for tinnitus and anxiety treatment

Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil - From Small-Town Sweden to Tropical Brazil: Dr. Katarina Leão's Journey in Neuroscience

In a captivating Genomic Press Interview published in Psychedelics, Dr. Katarina Leão, Associate Professor at the Brain Institute of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, shares her remarkable journey from a small Swedish steel town to becoming a leading researcher in auditory neuroscience and unconventional treatments for tinnitus.

Dr. Leão's passion for neuroscience was ignited during her time at the Australian National University. "In this dynamic and very social research environment, I fell in love with neuroscience and specifically ion channels and action potentials," she recalls. This serendipitous exposure to world-class neuroscience research set the stage for her future career. How might such chance encounters in science shape the future of research and innovation?

Throughout her career, Dr. Leão has embraced diverse research environments, from studying brainstem neurons in deaf mice to investigating spinal cord circuits in Sweden. Her current focus on noise-induced tinnitus without hearing loss represents a significant shift in the field. "I strive to increase the level of detail in this field by identifying variations in subtypes of neurons, specific ion channel perturbations, and alterations of genes in specific areas," Dr. Leão explains. This multifaceted approach raises intriguing questions: How might understanding these intricate neural mechanisms lead to breakthrough treatments for tinnitus and related anxiety disorders?

Dr. Leão's research uniquely bridges the auditory and limbic systems, exploring the impact of loud noise on both cortical neurons and hippocampal circuits. Her team is investigating unconventional treatment options, including psychedelics and cannabis extracts. This bold approach prompts us to consider: Could these alternative therapies revolutionize our understanding and treatment of neurological disorders beyond tinnitus?

The interview also sheds light on Dr. Leão's commitment to fostering a collaborative and inclusive research environment. "We have weekly journal clubs, taking turn presenting current topics, often using the journal club to collectively tackle methodologically complex papers," she shares. This emphasis on collective learning and multilingual communication (she speaks mostly English in the lab) raises an important question: How can such practices enhance the global scientific community's ability to address complex neurological challenges?

Dr. Leão's journey from a non-academic background to a tenured position in Brazil is inspiring. She reflects, "To have job stability as the industry usually provide, and being able to do basic research on my terms without paying for lab space, is a dream come true, actually more than I had dared to hope as a young female PhD student." Her success story prompts us to ask: How can the scientific community create more opportunities for researchers from diverse backgrounds to pursue groundbreaking work?

The interview also touches on Dr. Leão's perspectives on women in science and cultural diversity. She advocates for mentoring women into leading positions and increasing cultural diversity at grassroots levels. This raises a crucial question: What systemic changes are needed in the scientific community to ensure equal opportunities and representation?

Dr. Leão's work exemplifies the potential of cross-disciplinary approaches in neuroscience. By applying her diverse background to the study of tinnitus and related anxiety, she is opening new frontiers in treatment possibilities. Her research not only promises hope for those suffering from these conditions but also challenges our understanding of brain function and plasticity.

The full Genomic Press Interview with Dr. Katarina Leão, titled "Links between the auditory and limbic systems, with a focus on the effects of unconventional novel treatment options, such as psychedelics and cannabis extract," was published on January 25, 2024, in Psychedelics. It is freely available online at https://pp.genomicpress.com/aop/.

About Psychedelics – Psychedelics: The Journal of Psychedelic Pharmacology (ISSN: 2997-2671) is a peer-reviewed journal published by Genomic Press, New York. The journal is exclusively dedicated to the latest advancements in the realm of psychedelic substances and their potential therapeutic uses. Psychedelics embraces the full spectrum of research, from fundamental investigations to cutting-edge clinical studies and welcomes diverse perspectives and contributions, advancing the understanding of psychedelic compounds.