Neuroregeneration Program

The Neuroregeneration Program will develop approaches to address damage and dysfunction that cannot be prevented. Neuroregenerative approaches will include stimulation of the repair capacity of endogenous neural stem and progenitor cell populations, tissue modifications to reduce environmental factors that inhibit repair, and transplantation paradigms using exogenous stem cell populations.

Neuroregeneration Program Primary Goals:

The Neuroregeneration Program will address TBI repair using three overall approaches:

  • Stimulation of endogenous neural stem-progenitor (NS-P) cell regeneration
  • Transplantation of exogenous stem cell populations to promote regeneration
  • Modification of features of the lesion environment that inhibit repair

Critical Issues for the Neuroregeneration Program:

  • New neurons are generated throughout adulthood from several populations of progenitor cells, but these cells normally only make certain types of neurons.
  • Environmental signals and immune responses may limit the numbers and types of neurons generated in the adult brain.
  • The most significant benefit to cell transplantation in the nervous system has not been replacement of lost neurons and glia but rather modulation of the lesion environment and/or the immune response to promote regenerative responses from the immature endogenous cells.

Neuroregeneration Program Projects and Pilots

Click here to download project and pilots abstracts

Principal Investigator
Title
Denes Agoston
Improving Neuroregeneration after exposures to multiple mild blasts
Regina Armstrong
Neural Stem-Progenitor Cell Repair Potential at Distinct Sites of TBI Pathology
Leonardo Belluscio
Using the Mouse Olfactory System as a Model for Studying TBI
Rachel Cox
Characterizing mitochondrial Ca+2 homeostasis and the effects of oxidative damage
Martin Doughty
HDAC inhibitor effects on adult neurogenesis post-TBI
Yang Du Genetic
Identification of neural stem cell self-renewal regulators
Ying-Hong Feng
Generation of iPS cells without vector
Joseph Frank
Tracking labeled stem cells in TBI model by cellular MRI
Sharon Juliano
Using Neural stem/progenitor cells to repair simple neural circuits after TBI
Brian Schaefer
Modulation of NF-kB-dependent immune responses for post-TBI neuroregeneration
Aviva Symes
Altering the ECM after TBI to enhance regeneration and plasticity
Denes Agoston
Exploring strategies to improve outcome after repeated mild blast TBI
Regina Armstrong
Enhancing neural stem cell activation to improve white matter recovery from mild TBI
Martin Doughty
Targeting the epigenome to treat mTBI
Aviva Symes
Pre-clinical development of angiotensin receptor blockers for treatment of TBI
 
 
Pilots and Fellowships
 
Joseph Frank
Macrophage subsets in TBI
Brian Schaefer
Assessment of neurotrophin involvement and anti-inflammatory therapy in TBI
Aviva Symes
Angiotensin receptor blocker as potential therapeutics for TBI
Xianoyuan Chen
Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Based TBI Treatment and Therapy Effect Monitoring
Amanda Mierzwa
Evolution of Hedgehog Signaling and Oxidative Stress Following Mild TBI
Lisa Turtzo
Modulation of Inflammation after TBI
Sonia Villapol
Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers as Potential Therapeutics for TBI
Jae-Hyuk John Yi
Altering the ECM after TBI to Enhance Regeneration and Plasticity