Research Summary
Principal investigator, Johns Hopkins Department of Neurology 2010 to present
Assessment of post-stroke neocortical plasticity using a multi-modal approach in the motor and visual cortices.
Postdoctoral fellowship, University of Colorado at Boulder 2002 to 2003
Advisor: Kevin Jones, Ph.D
Title: Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor Signaling in Murine Visual Cortex.
Continuing upon my thesis research, I further described part of the biochemical signaling pathway through which brain derived neurotrophic factor signals to influence visual cortical plasticity.
Thesis project research, University of Colorado at Boulder 1998 to 2002
Advisor: Kevin Jones, Ph.D
Using genetic knockout mouse technology, I characterized the requirements for brain derived neurotrophic factor in the development and plastic changes of murine visual cortex.
Eleanor Roosevelt Institute 1998
Adviosr: Kathleen Gardiner, Ph.D.
Using several different computer algorithms, I annotated genes on chromosomes 21 and 22 and subsequently validated gene godels using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and sequencing techniques. I also analyzed the 3’ untranslated regions of the glutamate receptor family.
Undergraduate research, University of Colorado at Boulder 1995 to 1996
Advisor: William B. Wood, Ph.D.
I studied P granules, organelles asymmetrically segregated during early development of the C. elegans embryo, via cloning, characterization, and genetic mapping of a gene likely to be a P granule component.
Lab
Dr. Zeiler has created a multi-modal set of three research endeavors aimed at testing stroke outcomes during the time period of heightened recovery. These projects are based on mechanisms known to measure and influence brain plasticity, and investigation of these areas holds promise for more complete recovery in stroke patients.
Ultra-High Field MRI Study of Brain Reorganization after Stroke
Using specialized MRI techniques, Dr. Zeiler’s team studies how brain reorganization evolves after stroke and interacts with training. This will allow a targeted understanding of where and when the brain adapts to and recovers from stroke.
Nutritional Modification and Enhanced Stroke Recovery
Dr. Zeiler’s team is modeling a lack of recovery in animals who undergo delayed training after stroke (which has previously been shown to lead to poor motor recovery) and is investigating caloric restriction, which has been shown to enhance brain plasticity and can restore improvement in recovery.
Medicines and Enhanced Stroke Recovery
The team is modeling a lack of recovery in animals who undergo delayed training after stroke and is testing the effects of both fluoxetine and Cerebrolysin® on restoring the recovery phase.
Lab Website: The Zeiler Stroke Recovery Laboratory
Clinical Trials
To learn more about our current cerebrovascular clinical trials, please visit The Johns Hopkins Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (ICTR) and enter "cerebrovascular" in the search box.
Selected Publications
View all on PubMed
Zeiler, S. R., Krakauer, J.W. The interaction between training and plasticity in the poststroke brain. Curr Opin Neurol. Curr Opin Neurol. 2013 Oct 16. [Epub ahead of print]
Zeiler, S. R., Gibson, E. M., Hoesch, R. E., Li, M. Y., Worley, P. F., O’Brien, R. J., Krakauer, J. W. Medial Premotor Cortex Shows A Reduction In Inhibitory Markers And Mediates Recovery In A Mouse Model Of Focal Stroke. Stroke. 2013 Feb;44(2):483-9.
Han, Y., Li, N., Zeiler, S. R., Pelled, G. Peripheral nerve injury results in immediate increases in lamina V neuronal activity. (in press). Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair.
Qiao, Y., Zeiler, S. R., Mirbagheri, S., Leigh R., Urrutia, V., Wityk, R., Wasserman, B. A., Intracranial Plaque Enhancement in Patients with Cerebrovascular Events: Initial Results using 3D High Resolution Vessel Wall MRI. (epub – ahed of print) Radiology.
Zeiler, S. R., Gorski, J. A., Jones, K. R. (in revision for European J.Neurosci) BDNF acts as an activity dependent survival and modification factor for visual cortical synapses.
Marshall, S. A., Zeiler, S. R., Nyquist, P. A. The Use of Permissive Hypercapnia in the setting of Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy and ARDS: a brief case discussion regarding the use of lung protective ventilation in the setting of anoxic brain injury and eventual patient outcome. In preparation for The Neurologist.
Chik, Y, Gottesman R. F., Zeiler S. R., Rosenberg, J., Llinas R. H. Differentiation of Transverse Sinus Thrombosis From Congenitally Atretic Cerebral Transverse Sinus With CT. Stroke. 2012 Jul;43(7):1968-70. Epub 2012 May 15
Marsh, E.B., Zeiler, S.R., Levy, M., Llinas, R.H., Urrutia, V.C. Diagnosing CNS Vasculitis: the case against empiric treatment. Neurologist. 2012 Jul;18(4):233-8.
Qiao Y., Etesami M., Astor B.C., Zeiler S.R., Trout H.H. 3rd, Wasserman B.A. Carotid Plaque Neovascularization and Hemorrhage Detected by MR Imaging are Associated with Recent Cerebrovascular Ischemic Events. Am J Neuroradiol. 2012 Apr;33(4):755-60. Epub 2011 Dec 22.
Zeiler, S. R., Turtzo, C.L., Kaplan, P. W. SPECT Negative SIRPIDs Mimicking a Stroke After Cardiac Arrest. J Clin Neurophysiol. 2011 Oct;28(5):493-6.
Zeiler, S. R., Jordan, J. D., Greenberg, B. M., Kaplan, P. K. ANNA-3 Associated Stiff-Person-Syndrome. J. Cancer and Science Therapy. 2009 Vol. 2 Issue 1; 1 – 2.
Zeiler, S. R., Kaplan, P. W. Our digital world: camera phones and the diagnosis of a seizure. Lancet. 2009 Jun 20;373(9681):2136.
Zeiler S. R., Kaplan P. W. (2008) Propofol withdrawal seizures (or not). Seizure. 2008 Oct;17(7):665-7. Epub 2008 May 14
Gorski J. A., Zeiler S. R., Tamowski S., Jones K. R. (2003). Brain-derived neurotrophic factor is required for the maintenance of cortical dendrites. J Neurosci. Jul 30;23(17):6856-65.
Akbarian, S., Rios, M., Liu, R-J., Gold, S., Fongl, H., Zeiler, S., Coppola, V., Tessarollo, L., Jones, K., Nestler, E. J., Aghajanian, G. K., Jaenisch, R. (2002). Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor is Essential for Opiate-Induced Plasticity of Noradrenergic Neurons. J Neurosci. May 15;22 (10):4153-62.
Bennett J. L., Zeiler S. R., Jones K. R. (1999). Patterned expression of BDNF and NT-3 in the retina and anterior segment of the developing mammalian eye. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, Nov;40(12):2996-3005
Read the latest research papers that Dr. Zeiler has published at PubMed.
Patient Ratings & Comments
The Patient Rating score is an average of all responses to physician related questions on the national CG-CAHPS Medical Practice patient experience survey through Press Ganey. Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best score. Comments are also gathered from our CG-CAHPS Medical Practice Survey through Press Ganey and displayed in their entirety. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.