Neurology

Center For Translational Neuromedicine

Division of Cell and Gene Therapy / Division of Glial Diseases and Therapeutics

Faculty

Major Clinical and Investigative Interests

The goal of our Center is to develop 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

Besides the senior faculty, the unit includes over a dozen junior faculty, and a significant representation of postdoctoral fellows and students. The labs are highly collaborative, with many investigators pursuing projects between the principal lab groups. The group’s work is currently supported by 6 NIH R01 grants and a P01 program project, as well as by a variety of foundations that include the National MS Society, the New York State Stem Cell Program, the New York State Spinal Cord Research Program, the Hereditary Disease Foundation, the HiQ/CHDI Foundation, the Adelson Program in Neural Repair and Regeneration, the Mathers Charitable Foundation, and the James F. McDonnell Foundation. Past and present biotech and pharmaceutical collaborators include Sanofi-Aventis, QThera, Regeneron, Merck, and others, advancing both the scope and translational intent of these studies.

Contact Person:	Steven Goldman, M.D., Ph.D. Maiken Nedergaard, M.D., DMSc.
Phone:	585-275-9550 (Dr. Goldman) 585-273-2868 (Dr. Nedergaard)
Fax:	585-276-2298
Email:	steven_goldman@urmc.rochester.edu nedergaard@urmc.rochester.edu