Research Interests:
The primary goal of my research is focused on studying the
pathophysiology of spinal ischemic and traumatic injury and
identifying the role of cellular and subcellular components involved
into development of neurological complications resulting from spinal
injury such as muscle spasticity and rigidity (i.e. increased muscle
tone). A separate line of our investigations include the
characterization of a potential therapeutical role of spinally
grafted neural stem cells in modulating motor dysfunction in animals
after spinal injury. To identify the functional incorporation of
grafted cells into spinal neuronal circuitry we use several
immuhohistochemical and in vivo electrophysiological
techniques which permits to study the development of local synaptic
connectivity between grafted terminally differentiated neurons and
the neurons of the host. We also actively collaborate with
biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies and test new drugs or cell
lines in spasticity studies. Majority of students and postdoctoral
fellows in my laboratory are actively involved in both in vivo
model preparation and molecular, eletrophysiological and
immunohistological analysis.
Track(s):
Molecular Pharmacology
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