Research Interest

Axon growth, regeneration and repair after CNS injury

Axons in the adult mammalian central nervous system (CNS) have very limited ability to grow and regenerate following injury. Patients of spinal cord injury suffer from permanent functional deficits and paralysis largely because of the poor regenerative ability of CNS axons. Understanding the molecular basis of axon regeneration failure in the CNS will aid in the design of restorative therapies for spinal cord injury, white matter stroke and certain neurodegenerative disorders. Our lab investigates the molecular mechanisms of axonal repair in the CNS by applying a variety of experimental approaches/tools including molecular biology, mouse genetics, viral vectors, in vitro neuronal culture, experimental spinal cord injury, in vivo imaging and CLARITY 3D imaging.

For more information, see National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC).

Funding

NIH/NINDS, VA, Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, Wings for Life Foundation
Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, CIRM, Roman Reed, International Spinal Research Trust, Dana Foundation