Investigators in the Division of Neuropathology have a 25 year-history of studying neural injury and repair, including characterization of the responses of central and peripheral neurons to axonal injury; characterization of mechanisms of apoptosis and neuronal cell death; demonstration of the roles of neurotrophic peptides as therapeutics in models of neural injury; and pioneering the use of stem cells to support or replace dying neurons and to restore simple neural circuits. Furthermore, our investigators have pioneered genetic rodent models of neurodegenerative diseases including AD and ALS and have clarified key molecular steps leading to pathogenic protein aggregation in these disorders; these technologies and discoveries will play key roles in investigations of neurodegenerative mechanisms initiated by TBI.
Dr. Vassilis Koliatsos
Dr. Vassilis Koliatsos has a longstanding interest in the clinical, translational, and basic science of brain injury and has the principal responsibility for research efforts in our TBIRC.
Dr. Juan Troncoso and Dr. Barbara Crain
Dr. Juan Troncoso and Dr. Barbara Crain have over 20 years of experience evaluating human TBI pathology at Johns Hopkins Hospital and the State of Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Dr. Leyan Xu
Dr. Leyan Xu is working closely with Dr. Koliatsos on models of tauopathy and chronic neuroinfammation after TBI.
Dr. Phil Wong and Dr. Tong Li
Dr. Phil Wong and Dr. Tong Li are creating tau and TDP-43 transgenic mice that may shed light on the genetic susceptibility to TBI, especially CTE.
Dr. Charles Eberhart
Dr. Charles Eberhart is assessing the effects of TBI on the optic nerve and retina.
Dr. Alena Savonenko
Dr. Alena Savonenko has expertise in evaluating the behavioral and cognitive effects of TBI in rodent models.
Collaborators: Our research projects involve key collaborators in other Departments at Johns Hopkins University such as the department of Radiology and Institute of Cell Engineering, as well as outside institutions such as the Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU).