On Thursday, May 30, 2024, PhD candidate Maryam Hadi Sadiq successfully defended her dissertation in the Pharmacology Department. Her dissertation, titled: "Neuroprotective Effects of Ranolazine & Famotidine in Mice’s Model of Alzheimer’s Disease" aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effects of ranolazine and famotidine against Alzheimer-like disease induced by scopolamine in a mouse model. The study focused on their effects on important cytokines (IL1B, TNF-alpha, IL6), oxidative stress markers (MDA, SOD1), and the enzyme AChE. The findings showed that both drugs (ranolazine and famotidine) enhanced learning and ameliorated scopolamine-induced memory impairment, as assessed by behavioral parameters including the Y-maze and novel object recognition tests (P≤0.001). Both drugs exhibited good antioxidant activities, evidenced by significant reductions in levels of IL1B, IL6, and TNF-alpha (P≤0.001), and improvements in oxidative stress markers (P≤0.001). However, neither drug significantly decreased AChE levels, in contrast to the donepezil group, where AChE was significantly reduced. Histological examination of brain tissue showed significant improvement in all treated groups, with notable reductions in beta-amyloid plaques compared to the scopolamine group. The current study supports that: Both ranolazine and famotidine, at the doses used in this study, enhanced learning and treated memory impairment in the scopolamine-induced Alzheimer's model in mice. These effects can be attributed to the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of the drugs used. The discussion committee was composed of: Prof. Ahmed Rahmah Ali (Chair) Prof. Basim Shehab Ahmed (Member) Prof. Haider Faisal Ghazi (Member) Asst. Prof. Ali Abdulrazzaq Mohammed (Member) Asst. Prof. Fouad Kadhem Kadhim (Member) Prof. Adeeb Ahmed Kadhem (Member and Supervisor) The dissertation was accepted with high distinction. 
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