Cerebroscience

Basic and preclinical translational research is being conducted in the areas of cerebrovascular physiology and cerebral ischemic injury arising from ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, cardiac arrest, and head injury. Emphasis is on the use of in vivo models of integrated systems physiology and pathophysiology and on the use of in vitro systems to gain mechanistic insights.

Major areas of focus include signaling of cell death pathways, activation of different phospholipase A2 enzymes, cyclooxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid and their actions on specific prostaglandin receptors, effect of sex hormones, metabolism of hemoglobin and iron, potential therapy with alternative antioxidant nutrients, and mechanisms of tolerance from ischemic preconditioning. In addition to investigating potential therapies to protect neurons, strategies to rescue ischemic brain by enhancing vascular dilation or by using hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers are being explored.

A major topic in cerebrovascular physiology is unraveling the mechanisms that couple an increase in cerebral blood flow to neuronal activity. Emphasis in the laboratory has been on astrocyte-derived vasodilators. Another area of cerebrovascular research is the development of indices of autoregulatory vasoreactivity with non-invasive monitoring modalities such as cerebral oximetry. Preclinical and clinical validation of these indices is being conducted with the goal of providing real-time information for optimizing clinical management of cerebral perfusion pressure.

Other areas of investigation include use of hypertonic agents to reduce brain swelling, advanced electrophysiological monitoring of postischemic brain, deep brain stimulation for the treatment of seizures, mechanisms of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, and therapies to extend the therapeutic time window for hypothermia.

Borzan, Jasenka – (Lab: Srinivasa Raja) Research Associate. Research Focus: understanding the mechanism of chronic pain associated with nerve injury, also known as neuropathic pain. CEREBROSCIENCE, PAIN

Cao, Suyi – (Lab: Ray Koehler) Research Associate: Research Focus: basic and preclinical translational research in the areas of cerebrovascular physiology and cerebral ischemic injury that arises from stroke and cardiac arrest. CEREBROSCIENCE

Carhuapoma, Juan Ricardo – Assistant Professor. Research Focus: investigating the use of pharmacologic intervention and advanced MRI techniques in the quest to understand and treat neuronal damage after acute brain injury. CEREBROSCIENCE

Geocadin, Romergryko – Assistant Professor. Research Focus: translational research in neurocritical care, particularly in regard to coma brought about by the global cerebral ischemia that follows cardiac arrest. CEREBROSCIENCE

Gottschalk, Allan – Associate Professor. Research Focus: investigating the mechanism of chronic pain associated with nerve injury, also known as neuropathic pain. PAIN, CEREBROSCIENCE

Johns, Roger – Professor. Research Focus: investigating the mechanisms that underlie anesthesia, analgesia, chronic pain, and inflammatory lung disorders (such as pulmonary hypertension and asthma). CARDIOVASCULAR, CEREBROSCIENCE, PAIN, PULMONARY

Koehler, Ray – Professor. Research Focus: basic and preclinical translational research in the areas of cerebrovascular physiology and cerebral ischemic injury that arises from stroke and cardiac arrest. CARDIOVASCULAR, CEREBROSCIENCE, PERIOPERATIVE

Kwansa, Herman – (Lab: Ray Koehler) Research Associate. Research Focus: basic and preclinical translational research in the areas of cerebrovascular physiology and cerebral ischemic injury that arises from stroke and cardiac arrest. CEREBROSCIENCE

Liu, Xiaoguang – (Lab: Ray Koehler) Research Associate. Research Focus: basic and preclinical translational research in the areas of cerebrovascular physiology and cerebral ischemic injury that arises from stroke and cardiac arrest. CEREBROSCIENCE

Mirski, Marek - Vice-Chair, Anesthesiology/Critical Care Medicine, Director, Neuroscience Critical Care Units, Chief, Division of Neuroanesthesiology, Co-Director, Johns Hopkins Comprehensive Stroke Center, Associate Professor, Anesthesiology/Critical Care Medicine, Neurology, Neurosurgery. Research Focus: investigating subcortical mechanisms of seizure propagation and cortical synchrony. CEREBROSCIENCE

Morad, Athir – Assistant Professor. Research Focus: investigating subcortical mechanisms of seizure propagation and cortical synchrony. CEREBROSCIENCE

Naval, Neerji – Assistant Professor. Research Focus: investigating the use of pharmacologic intervention and advanced MRI techniques in the quest to understand and treat neuronal damage after acute brain injury. CEREBROSCIENCE

Nyquist, Paul – Assistant Professor. Research Focus: translational research projects that incorporate well-founded biologic models into patient care in brain injury. CEREBROSCIENCE

Papangelou, Alexander – Instructor. Research Focus: investigating subcortical mechanisms of seizure propagation and cortical synchrony. CEREBROSCIENCE

Pustavoitau, Aliaksei – Instructor. Research Focus: models and mechanisms of impaired consciousness in patients with acute brain injury. CEREBROSCIENCE

Raja, Srinivasa – Professor. Research Focus: investigating the mechanism of chronic pain associated with nerve injury, also known as neuropathic pain. CEREBROSCIENCE, PAIN

Robertson, Courtney – Assistant Professor. Research Focus: studying mitochondrial dysfunction after traumatic brain injury in children. CEREBROSCIENCE

Sapirstein, Adam – Associate Professor. Research Focus: the roles of phospholipases A₂ and their lipid metabolites in brain injury. CARDIOVASCULAR, CEREBROSCIENCE

Shaffner, Hal – Associate Professor. Research Focus: healthcare quality improvement and safety research, particularly as it relates to pediatric patients undergoing anesthesia. CEREBROSCIENCE, HEALTH OUTCOMES AND SAFETY RESEARCH

Stevens, Robert – Associate Professor. Research Focus: models and mechanisms of impaired consciousness in patients with acute brain injury. CEREBROSCIENCE

Tao, Yuan-Xiang – Associate Professor. Research Focus: investigating the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie central sensitization of chronic pain. CEREBROSCIENCE, PAIN

Toung, Thomas – Professor. Research Focus: studying the therapeutic effects of osmotic therapy and sex hormones with regard to focal cerebral ischemic injury, spinal cord ischemia, and global brain ischemia. CEREBROSCIENCE

Wang, Jian – Assistant Professor. Research Focus: understanding the pathophysiology of intracerebral hemorrhage. CEREBROSCIENCE

Yaster, Myron - Richard J. Traystman Distinguished Professor. Research Focus: optimizing pediatric pain management. CEREBROSCIENCE, PAIN, PERIOPERATIVE

Ziai, Wendy – (Lab: Marek Mirski) Assistant Professor.  Research Focus: investigating subcortical mechanisms of seizure propagation and cortical synchrony. CEREBROSCIENCE