
Our laboratory uses molecular biology, cell culture, and animal modeling techniques to examine the CNS response to acute injury. In particular, our laboratory examines the role of microglial activation and the endogenous CNS inflammatory response in exacerbating secondary injury following acute brain insult. Much of the in vitro work in this laboratory is dedicated to elucidating cellular responses to injury with the ultimate goal of exploring new therapeutic interventions in the clinical setting of stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, and closed head injury.
In conjunction with the Multidisciplinary Neuroprotection Laboratories, we also focus on clinically relevant small animal models of acute CNS injury. For example, we have recently characterized murine models of closed head injury, subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracranial hemorrhage and perinatal hypoxia-ischemia, in addition to the standard rodent models of focal stroke and transient forebrain ischemia. Recently we have adapted several of these models from the rat to the mouse to take advantage of murine transgenic technology. The objective of these studies are two-fold: to gain better insight into the cellular responses and pathophysiology of acute brain injury, and to test novel therapeutic strategies for clinical translation. In both cell culture systems and animal models, our primary focus is on examining the role of oxidative stress and inflammatory mechanism in mediating brain injury following acute brain insult, and examining the neuroprotective effects of endogenous apolipoprotein E in the injured mammalian central nervous system.
Our laboratory is committed to translational research, and has several active clinical research protocols, which are designed to bring the research performed in the Multidisciplinary Research Laboratories to the clinical arena. These protocols are centered around patients following stroke and acute brain injury, and are primarily based out of the Emergency Room and Neurocritical Care Unit. For example, we are currently examining the role of inflammatory mediators for use as a point-of-care diagnostic marker following stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, and closed head injury. We have recently translated a novel apoE mimetic from the preclinical setting to a multi center Phase 2 trial evaluating efficacy in intracranial hemorrhage. We are also examining the functional role of different polymorphisms of of inflammatory cytokines in the setting of acute brain injury and neurological dysfunction following cardiopulmonary bypass.
Education and Training
- Duke University, M.D. 1991
- University of Pennsylvania, Resident in Neurology, Neurology
- Duke University, Fellow in Neurology (Stroke/Neurocritical Care), Medicine
Selected Grants and Awards
- NINDS Research Education Programs for Residents and Fellows in Neurosurgery
- Learning to Predict Delayed Cerebral Ischemia with Novel Continuous Cerebral Arterial State Index
- Mechanisms and Clinical Impact of Myocardial Injury Following Traumatic Brain Injury
- Antiplatelet in Stroke: Safety and Effectiveness in Seniors (ASSESS)
- Integrate Dynamic System Model and Machine Learning for Calibration-Free Noninvasive ICP
- Developing Biomarkers for Traumatic Brain Injury and Alzheimer's Disease via Acoustic Exosome Separation Devices
- A Phase II Study of an ApoE mimetic peptide to reduce Postoperative Delirium, Cognitive Dysfunction after Non-Cardiac Surgery in Older Adults
- Phase 1 Clinical Trials for Development of Neurotherapeutics Performance
- Phase I Single Ascending Dose and Multiple Ascending Dose Study of 2R,6R-Hydroxynorketamine
- A Randomised, Controlled, Phase 3 Study of the Safety and Efficacy of Intracerebral Stem Cells (CTX0E03 DP) in Patients with Disability Following an Ischaemic Stroke
- AKL-T01 ADHD Adjunctive
- MicroRNA Profiling to Characterize and Predict Posttraumatic Epilepsy following Traumatic Brain Injury
- rGDF11 improves outcomes after closed head injury and intracranial hemorrhage
- CN105 to improve long-term recovery in models of intracerebral hemorrhage
- Proteo improves outcomes after closed head injury and subarachnoid hemorrhage
- Extract of Erigeron breviscapus protects against brain injury in stroke
- Immunological biomarker studies in myasthenia gravis
- A Phase 1b MAD Study of TT301/MW189
- PDE-1 Inhibitor Study- LOI
- Prophylactic administration of CN-105 confers neuroprotection against acute brain injury
- Xenon As A Therapeutic in Experimental Intracerebral Hemorrhage
- Training for the Prevention and Treatment of Stroke in China
- Clinical Practice Data to Aid Narrow Therapeutic Index Drug Classification
- Neuroprotective pentapeptide improves outcome after ischemic stroke and subarachnoid hemorrhage
- Linearized apoE peptide mimetic is neuroprotective in acute cerebrovascular disease
- Karyopharm Theapeutics Clinipace Project
- Eythropotien Peptides & Traumatic Brain Injury
- Multidisciplinary Neonatal Training Grant
- A Multicenter, Double-Blind, Placedbo-Controlled, Randomized, Parallel-Group Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Intravenous Natalizumab (BG0002) on reducing Infarct volume in Acute Ischemic Stroke.
- pH dependent neuroprotective agents improve outcome in murine SAH
- IPA- Hana Dawson
- PeriOperative Interventional Neuroprotection Trial POINT
- Triple transgenic model of Alzheimer's Disease
- Genetics, Inflammation & Post-op Cognitive Dysfunction
- ApoE-mimetic peptides protect against brain injury
- Microglial Neuron Specific Toxin
- Apolipoprotein E effecton the CNS immune response.
- Apolipoprotein E effect on the CNS immune response
- The Effect Of Apoe On Cholinergic Neuron Survival
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