Axon regeneration and spinal cord injury

Treatment of spinal cord injury, white matter stroke and certain neurodegenerative disorders can be significantly improved with a better understanding of the poor capability for axon regeneration in the central nervous system. The research programs on CNS repair in the Department of Neurosciences focus on axon regeneration and plasticity with experimental spinal cord injury. Using animal models including genetically modified mice, rats and primates, the groups study the role of growth promoting factors, tissue/cell bridging and growth inhibitory factors in regeneration. Both mechanistic and translational studies are pursued as the overriding goal is both to undercover basic mechanisms of CNS regeneration failure and to ultimately apply this insight to therapeutic interventions in humans.

Research:

Armin Blesch, PhD
Binhai Zheng, PhD
Mark H.Tuszynski, MD, PhD

News

Department of Neurosciences Employee Named Principal Exemplary Staff Employee of the Year

Terry Alexander, Administrative Nurse III – Supervisor in the Department of Neurosciences, recently was recognized as the 2008-2009 UCSD Principal Exemplary Staff Employee of the Year.

We are extremely proud of the hard work that led to this impressive achievement. Please read more about Terry here

In addition, four other individuals in the Department of Neurosciences were named Employee of the Year Honorees. We are proud that Patty Camacho, Ellen Mathews, Mindy Schroeder, and John Widjaja were recognized for their many contributions to our department and the university. Read more about the department’s nominees here