MJ Ellis Distinguished Lecture Series, 2002

"Axon Regeneration in the Spinal Cord: What We Can Learn from the Sea Lamprey"

November 14th, 9:00pm
Pollard Auditorium at Carle Hospital in Urbana

Dr. Michael Selzer

Professor of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine

Abstract

Injury to the spinal cord of humans causes permanent paralysis because interrupted axons fail to regenerate. However, recent work on mammals suggests that it may be possible to overcome some of the inhibitory factors preventing regeneration. This makes it imperative that we understand better the mechanisms and theoretical limitations of regeneration in the vertebrate nervous system. The sea lamprey is used as a model to investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive regeneration and guide it in correct paths.

Biography

Michael Selzer is internationally known for his research in regeneration of the central nervous system, where he uses the sea lamprey spinal cord as an experimental model. He has recently applied NMR to visualize individual axons in the lamprey, and he is interested in developmental guidance molecules in CNS regeneration. Dr. Selzer's research efforts have been funded by the National Institutes of Health for more than 25 years. He is the Editor-in-Chief of Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, the official journal of the American Society of Neurorehabilitation. Dr. Selzer is also active in the clinic, where he consults with patients afflicted with seizure disorders, stroke and spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries. He currently serves as the Associate Dean for Graduate Education and Director of Biomedical Graduate Studies at the University of Pennsylvania.