Expertise
Altering Host Glial Responses following CNS Injury and Disease to Promote Repair.
The present focus of Dr. Ghosh’s laboratory research is on altering the hostile environment of the injured or diseased CNS to one that is conducive to repair through conversion of the immunophenotypic form of microglia and macrophages from a cytotoxic M1 to a reparative M2 state. Specifically her work focuses on delineating the intrinsic and extrinsic signals present after injury that antagonize the conversion of activated microglia and macrophages to a reparative M2 phenotype in experimental models of CNS injury and disease, such spinal cord injury and Multiple Sclerosis. By understanding the signals that govern macrophage-microglia phenotype, she aims to develop novel, molecular, and immuno-pharmacological therapeutic strategies to promote M1 to M2 conversion of these cells to induce neuroprotection, neuroplasticity, and/or disease remission. Her laboratory is also interested in understanding how altering the immunophenotypical profile of macrophages and microglia can affect host glial responses, including the formation of the glial scar and oligodendrocyte migration and myelination as well as influence the ability of transplanted cells, such as Schwann cells and stem cells, to mediate neurorepair. Dr. Ghosh’s long term research goal is to establish this research niche within the fields of Neuroimmunology and glial cell biology and to identify therapies that may improve the lives of people with neurological diseases and injury.