Dr. Christopher Divito

Dr. Divito facilitates OMS-I and II problem-based learning and lectures on topics in neuropharmacology.

Background and Experience

Dr. Christopher Divito completed his doctoral studies on conducting states of neurotransmitter transporters at the University of Pittsburgh, Department of Neurobiology in 2013. He then continued at the University of Pittsburgh as a post-doctoral scholar researching how alteration in glutamatergic transmission through loss of VGLUT3 created a neuroprotective plasticity in mouse models of Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Divito moved to Duquesne University’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in 2016 studying chemical modification of glycine channels using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Dr. Divito then transitioned into biotechnology industry where he employed at MolecularDx, LLC (MDx) serving in as the operations director, quality assurance director, and then interim director of business development. Dr. Divito continued research while at MDx, studying the use of alternative matrices and instrumental methods in postmortem toxicology. In 2022, Dr. Divito re-joined academia as an Assistant Professor of Basic Science at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, located at the Seton Hill campus. Dr. Divito facilitates OMS-I and II problem-based learning and lectures on topics in neuropharmacology.

Current Interests of the Divito Lab:

1. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of novel psychoactive substances. This project aims to elucidate the interactions and metabolism of novel psychoactive substances (NPS). NPS are newly developed and synthesized derivatives to know drugs of abuse. Due to their novelty, they are typically unscheduled, and little is known about their toxicity and detection parameters. We plan to use heterologous expression systems and liver hepatocytes cultures to assay for interaction with drug targets (receptors, transporters, etc.) as well as metabolism through cytochrome P450 enzymes isoforms. Identification of metabolites also allow for the development of robust detection and quantification assays for toxicological analysis.
2. Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in Medical School. Medical school is uniquely challenging academic endeavor where medical students make use of various resources to enhance their learning outcomes. Large Language Model (LLM) Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) software programs that students can interact with using a natural language or conversational interface. The use of LLM AI has drastically increased over the last few years and can be a powerful tool for many applications. Our work focuses on several aspects of AI use in medical school. We are interrogating students’ perception of LLM AI through surveys data collection. We also are analyzing LLM AI’s ability to support a problem-based learning (PBL) curriculum through replacement of group members or supplementation of group resources. Our hypothesis is that through responsible use training of students, learning outcomes can be enhanced by using these powerful tools. 

PUBLICATIONS

• Driesenga SJ, Burrington RG, Jain A, Selinsky S, Waseem RA, Divito CB. (2026) “Interprofessional Education at Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Improve Confidence in Interprofessional Teamwork and Patient Handoffs” Cureus 18(3): e106077.
• Divito EB, Brody, J, DiPerna Z, Fochtman FW, Divito CB. (2025) “A Comparison of Vitreous Fluid and Blood Matrices in Postmortem Drug Analysis.” J Anal Toxicol. May 16;49(5):351-357.
• Divito CB, Katchikian BM, Gruenwald JE, Burgoon JM. (2024) “The Tools of the Future are the Challenges of Today: The Use of ChatGPT in Problem-Based Learning Medical Education.” Med Teach. 46(3): 320-322
• Weisz CJC, Williams SPG, Eckard C, Divito CB, Ferreira DW, Fantetti KN, Dettwyler SA, Cai HM, Rubio ME, Kandler K, and Seal RP. (2021) “Outer Hair Cell Glutamate Signaling through Type II Spiral Ganglion Afferents Activates Neurons in the Cochlear Nucleus in Response to Nondamaging Sounds.” J Neurosci 41(13): 2930-2943
• Divito CB, Borowski JE, Glasgow NG, Gonzalez-Suarez AD, Torres-Salazar D, Johnson JW, Amara SG. (2017) “Glial and Neuronal Glutamate Transporters Differ in the Na+ Requirements for Activation of the Substrate-Independent Anion Conductance.” Front Mol Neurosci. 29(10):e150
• Divito, C. B., Steece-Collier, K., Case, D. T., Williams, S. P., Stancati, J. A., Zhi, L., Rubio, M. E., Sortwell, C. E., Collier, T. J., Sulzer, D., Edwards, R. H., Zhang, H., Seal, R. P. (2015). “Loss of VGLUT3 Produces Circadian-Dependent Hyperdopaminergia and Ameliorates Motor Dysfunction and l-Dopa-Mediated Dyskinesias in a Model of Parkinson’s Disease.” J Neurosci 35(45): 14983-14999.
• Torres-Salazar, D., Jiang, J., Divito, C. B., Garcia-Olivares, J., Amara, S. G. (2015). “A Mutation in Transmembrane Domain 7 (TM7) of Excitatory Amino Acid Transporters Disrupts the Substrate-dependent Gating of the Intrinsic Anion Conductance and Drives the Channel into a Constitutively Open State.” J Biol Chem 290(38): 22977-22990.
• Watts SD, Torres-Salazar D, Divito CB, Amara SG. (2014). “Mechanism of cysteine interaction in excitatory amino acid transporters.” PLOS One 9(10):e109245
• Divito CB and SM Underhill (2014). “Excitatory amino acid transporters: Roles in glutamatergic neurotransmission.” Neurochem Int. Review
• Pan J, Chen Q, Willenbring D, Mowrey D, Kong XP, Cohen A, Divito CB, Xu Y, Tang P. (2012). “Structure of the Pentameric Ligand-Gated Ion Channel GLIC Bound with Anesthetic Ketamine.” Structure 20(9): 1463-1469.
• Divito CB, Amara SG. (2009). “Close encounters of the oily kind: regulation of transporters by lipids.” Mol Interv 9(5): 252-262. Review
• Divito CB, Davies S, Masoudi S, Muhoro CN. (2007) “Relative stability of formamidine and carbamate groups in the bifunctional pesticide formetanate hydrochloride.” J Agric Food Chem 55(14): 5377-5382.