My lab investigates the molecular control of cell fate and homeostasis of resident stem and progenitor cells in the human brain. Using a combination of multicolor cell sorting techniques and whole genome analysis, we are characterizing the signaling pathways which regulate the formation and fate of human oligodendrocyte progenitor cells. We are testing the functional significance of these pathways using both pharmacological and viral methods in culture and animal-based models of myelination and demyelination.
Education and Training:
PhD, Neuroscience, University of Cambridge (2001)
MA, Natural Sciences, University of Cambridge, 1st Class (1997)
Employment:
Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University at Buffalo (2015-present)
Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University at Buffalo (2009–2015)
Assistant Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Neurology, University of Rochester (2006–2009)
Research Assistant Professor, Neurology, University of Rochester (2004–2006)
Instructor, Neurology, University of Rochester (2003–2004)
Instructor, Neurology/Neuroscience, Cornell University Medical College (2003)
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Neurology/Neuroscience, Cornell University Medical College (2002–2003)
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom (2001)
Research Expertise:
Neuroscience
UB 2020 Strategic Strengths:
Molecular Recognition in Biological Systems and Bioinformatics
Grants and Sponsored Research:
December 2017–November 2022 Muscarinic Receptor Type 3 Regulation of Oligodendrocyte ProgenitorDifferentiation NIH/NINDS Role: Principal Investigator $1,744,530
October 2017–September 2020 Targeting extracellular sulfatases to accelerate oligodendrocyte progenitor-based myelin repair and regeneration National Multiple Sclerosis Society Role: Principal Investigator $579,900
November 2017–October 2018 Modeling human cell-based remyelination in large chronic demyelinating lesions National Multiple Sclerosis Society Role: Principal Investigator $44,000
October 2013–September 2017 Muscarinic Receptor Regulation of Oligodendrocyte Differentiation National Multiple Sclerosis Society Role: Principal Investigator $554,973
March 2013–February 2015 Directed Reprogramming of Human Fibroblasts to Oligodendrocyte Progenitors NYSTEM Role: Principal Investigator $329,984
September 2010–August 2013 Atlas of gene expression by progenitor cells of the human brain and its tumors NYSTEM Role: Co-Investigator $216,690
May 2012–April 2013 Development of novel cerebral X-ALD model using human ABCD1-null oligodendrocyte progenitors European Leukodystophy Association Role: Principal Investigator $58,792
September 2010–August 2012 Induction of Oligodendrocyte Fate from Human Neural Stem Cells NYSTEM Role: Principal Investigator $319,907
July 2007–July 2008 Low-Grade Oligodendroglioma Brain Tumor Research Grant National Brain Tumor Foundation Role: Principal Investigator $50,000
August 2004–August 2005 Does statin therapy reduce the self-renewal capacity of adult human oligodendrocyte progenitor cells? National Multiple Sclerosis Society Role: Principal Investigator $44,000
Patents:
CD24 as a brain tumor marker CD24 as a brain tumor stem cell marker and a diagnostic and therapeutic target in primary neural and glial tumors of the brain (2008)
CD140a sorting Treating Myelin Diseases with Optimized Cell Preparations (2008)
Human NSC gene expression Genes and signaling pathways differentially active in neural stem cells and neuronal progenitor cells (2006)
WMPC gene expression Genes differentially expressed by acutely isolated resident progenitor cells of the human white matter (2004)
American Association for Cancer Research (2007–present)
International Society for Stem Cell Research (2006–present)
American Society for Neurochemistry (2005–present)
Society for Neuroscience (2003–present)
British Neuropathological Society (2000–2001)
Presentations:
"Muscarinic receptor M3R signaling prevents efficient remyelination by human and mouse oligodendrocyte progenitor cells" 7th Joint ECTRIMS-ACTRIMS (2017)
"Targeting the inhibitors of remyelination by modulation of HSPG sulfation" 13th Biennial ISN Satellite Meeting on Myelin Biology, Internation Society for Neurochemistry (2017)
"Transcriptional regulation of human OPC fate" 12th Biennial ISN Satellite Meeting on Myelin Biology, International Society for Neurochemistry Meeting (2015)
"Muscarinic M3R regulation of human oligodendrocyte progenitor differentiation" Gordon Research Conference on Myelin (2014)
"Identification and genomic analysis of human neural and oligodendrocyte progenitor cells" Euroglia XI (2013)
"Transcriptional control of oligodendrocyte fate in human brain" 11th Biennial ISN Satellite Meeting on Myelin Biology, ISN-ASN Meeting (2013)
"Genomic analyses of human A2B5-defined glioma initiating progenitor cells" Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Molecular and Developmental Genetics Seminar (2010)
"Human glial progenitor cell isolation and microarray-based molecular characterization: in search of oligoneogenic pathways" SUNY REACH Neurodegenerative Diseases and Stem Cell Therapeutics Symposium (2010)
"Transcriptional regulation of glial progenitor cells in the developing human brain" 41st Meeting of the American Society for Neurochemistry, American Society for Neurochemistry (2010)
"Directing human oligodendrocyte progenitor differentiation and repair" Biosymposia, Stem Cells and CNS regeneration, Biosymposia (2007)
"Fluorescence-based identification, isolation and transplantation of human stem cells" Keio International Symposium on Photonics and Molecular Therapy, Keio University (2007)
"Stem cell-based repair of the CNS" University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Brain research centre research day (2006)
"Fate-regulating pathways in adult human oligodendrocyte progenitors" 36th Meeting of the American Society for Neurochemistry, American Society for Neurochemistry (2005)