Investigator, Asst Prof (M) Radiology, Mass General Research Institute

Assistant Professor of Radiology Harvard Medical School

astrocytes; brain ischemia; cannabidiol; cb1; hmgb1 protein; infarction middle cerebral artery; mitochondria transplants; neuroprotective agents; oligodendroglia; receptor cannabinoid; tetrahydrocannabinol My research goal is to develop new therapies to promote brain remodeling for patients with stroke and neurodegenerative disease. In particular, our lab focuses on signaling between multiple cell types in the neurovascular unit. To test our hypotheses, we try to use a multi-disciplinary approach including pharmacology, and molecular and cell biology.
Recently, we stumbled across a surprising new mechanism in the neurovascular unit, whereby cells are surprisingly capable of releasing and transferring mitochondria into another cell. My hope is that these studies especially on the therapeutic use of extracellular mitochondria will lead to new approaches for devastating CNS injury after stroke, trauma, and neurodegeneration.