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URMC  » Center for Translational Neuromedicine

• Center for Translational Neuromedicine
• Faculty
• Goldman Lab
• Nedergaard Lab
• Publications
• Dept. of Neurology
• Dept. of Neurosurgery

New Approaches for Treating Neurological Diseases

The Center for Translational Neuromedicine focuses on the development of new approaches for treating neurological diseases, using cell and gene therapy. Our emphasis is on using these technologies to mobilize endogenous stem and progenitor cells of the adult brain and spinal cord, for purposes of structural repair. In addition, stem cell isolation and transplant strategies are also actively pursued. Our disease targets are those attributable to dysfunction or loss of single cell types, for instance dysmyelinating disease as a paradigm for the use of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells. The principal groups in the Center include Dr. Goldman, whose division focuses on neural stem biology, and Dr. Nedergaard, whose division focuses on astrocytic physiology and pathology.

Goldman Lab

• Molecular identification and gene expression analysis of phenotypically-restricted progenitor and glial cell types of both the fetal and adult human CNS
• The relationship of native neural stem cells to tumor stem cells and gliomas of the adult CNS
• Glial and oligodendrocyte progenitor-based cell therapy in models of pediatric leukodystophies.
• Development of restricted neuronal progenitor cells for transplantation and drug development, such as those generating midbrain dopaminergic neurons
• Use of both ES cell-derived and native progenitors in neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s, ALS, and MS
• Inducing endogenous progenitors as a means of treatment, in particular in Huntington’s disease models

Nedergaard Lab

• The role of astrocytes in epileptogenesis and the treatment of seizure disorders
• The contribution of astrocytes to the regulation of cerebral blood flow, especially in ischemia
• Activity-dependent modulation of astrocytic signaling
• The role of gliosis and glial signaling in stroke
• Assessment of glial gene expression patterns in various disease states
• Developing new modalities for imaging native and transplanted glial progenitors in vivo
• Glial targeted treatment of spinal cord injury