Russel J. Reiter, Ph.D.

Department of Cellular and Structural Biology
University of Texas Health Science Center

Dr. Reiter teaches in the Medical Neuroscience and Dental Microscopic Anatomy courses at the University of Texas Health Science Center.  His research interests relate to free radical aspects of disease processes and aging.  Of particular interest is defining the role of oxygen derivatives in neurodegenerative diseases and their function in apoptosis, necrosis and neuronal degeneration. 

Besides investigating the functional relevance of free radicals to age-associated organ deterioration, Dr. Reiter has been researching melatonin for 30 years.  Dr. Reiter's research on tart cherries involves the antioxidant properties of cherries as they relate to melatonin and the sleep/wake cycle.  The investigations include the mechanisms of interaction of melatonin with free radicals and the resulting products.  This research group is also investigating the role of melatonin as an antitoxin against a variety of xenobiotics and environmental pollutants and the functional significance of melatonin and other indoleamines with processes of aging.

Dr. Reiter is the recipient of numerous awards including three honorary doctor of medicine degrees and, most recently, the Presidential Distinguished Scholar Award from UTHSCSA.  He co-authored the book Melatonin (Bantam, 1996).