Alzheimer's Disease Pathogenesis following Inhalation of Wildfire SmokeWildfires have become commonplace with high concentration of ultrafine particles spreading hundreds of kilometers from fires into large urban centers. Recent epidemiology indicates an increased incidence of dementia in areas of the US that have been prone to wildfires in the last ten years. Our research aims to establish the causal mechanisms and define factors that influence the onset of pathogenesis as well as to assess interventions.
|
Brain Injury Theragnostics - towards better recoveryStudy of the adaptive processes underlying functional recovery following
neurotrauma and how we may develop theragnostic tools to employ
individualized interventions in humans. The aims of this work are to
link clinical metabolic profiles of rehabilitation with neurobiological
processes studied using model systems, with the goals of guided (e.g.,
biomarker profiles) therapeutic intervention.
|
The Circulating Peptidome - Mediator of Neuropathology and Diagnostic of Brain InjuryStudy of molecular signaling within blood (seromics) as a novel
mechanism for tranducing systemic toxic effects following inhalation of
xenobiotic agents. Smoke, pollution and nanomaterial exposure generates a
complex omic signature comprised of signaling peptides and other shed
molecules that have been shown to degrade vascular function. We are
interested in studying their impact on the blood brain barrier and
signaling impact within the parenchyma.
|
Inhaled Toxicant Perturbation of NeurodevelopmentStudy of neurodevelopmental perturbation induced by environmental exposure to outside and indoor air pollutants such as ozone and secondhand smoke and underlying mechanisms pertaining to neurocognitive and behavioral deficits in children and adolescents. Our research has shown that exposure to household level secondhand smoke during the vulnerable period of neurodevelopment following birth does alter energetics and synaptic processes within the brain using a model system. We have found significant behavioral effects associated with exposure, along with morphometric and neuroproteomic perturbation. Further research has examined the impact of gestational ozone, a major reactive component of urban air pollution, on placental formation and maladapted proliferation and circuit formation in the brain.
|
Omic Analytics - bringing Data-Independent Mass Spectrometry to studying the brain
Study of methodological and informatic improvements for the use of high-capacity separations and data-independent mass spectrometry analyses for unbiased assessment of preclinical and clinical molecular dynamics. Our goals are to further an analytical and informatics approach to quantify and interpret metabolic, translational and post-translational change following insult to the brain.
|