Research

Basic Science

Our division uses varied methods to explore the following areas: 

• Elucidating the mechanisms of neurodegenerative disease using mouse, fly, worm and induced pluripotent stem cells (IPSC) models 
• Evaluating the effects of prenatal exposure to glucocorticoids and cannabinoids on brain development
• Using viral oncotherapy to generate anti-tumor memory T-cells
• Combining fMRI and quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) processing data to determine brain re-organization and neural plasticity following injury in children

Lead Researchers

• Udai Pandey, PhD
• Samuel Todd Lamitina, PhD
• Alexis L. Franks, MD
• Christina M. Patterson, MD
• Ira Bergman, MD, PhD

Collaborators

• Donald B. DeFranco, PhD
• Marlene Behrmann, PhD

Clinical Research

The clinical faculty have a broad range of research interests: 

• Developing qEEG and statistical machine-learning methods that deeply interrogate continuous EEG data and automatically warn of ongoing neurologic deterioration
• Elucidating the genetic contributions to infantile-onset epilepsy
• Evaluating clinical genetic therapies of neuromuscular disorders
• Studying drug therapies that modify language learning in young children with Fragile X syndrome
• Clinically characterizing a new neurogenetic disorder caused by mutations in the GEMIN5 gene
• Studying the natural history and neuro-radiological manifestations of childhood neuro-immunological diseases
• Serving as the regional coordinating center of the Stroke Trials Network

Collaborators

• Christopher Genovese, PhD
• Mark Scheuer, MD
• Persyst Corporation
• NeuroNext

Quality Improvement (QI)

Several quality improvement projects have been initiated by the division, including studying reproductive healthcare in women with epilepsy and developing QI methodology that reduces hospital admissions for neurological disease.  These projects are conducted in collaboration with Traci Marie Kazmerski, MD, MS of the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine.