Expertise
For over 10 years the main focus of my research has been understanding the role of neuroinflammation in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, neuropathic pain), with a specific interest in the contribution of glial cells. I have been pursuing these investigations using both in vitro and in vivo models. In collaboration with Dr. John Bethea, I participated in developing and characterizing a novel transgenic mouse (GFAP-IkBa-dominant negative mice) where the transcription factor NF-kB, a master regulator of inflammation, is inactivated specifically in astrocytes.
Currently, my lab is focused on two specific areas of interest:
- Investigating the role of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), both membrane-bound and soluble forms, in the processes of neuroinflammation, demyelination and remyelination in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and spinal cord injury.
- Investigating whether mitochondrial dysfunction in oligodendrocytes plays a role in the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis.