MJ Ellis Distinguished Lecture Series, 2001
"Repairing the Damaged Spinal Cord: Doable Therapeutics"
April 27th, 4:30-7:00pm
Levis Faculty Center
Dr. John W. McDonald
Department of Neurology and Center for the Study of Nervous System Injury Washington University School of Medicine
Abstract
Rehabilitation is expanding its scope to include restoration of function through regeneration. Long regarded as impossible, spinal cord repair is entering the realm of doable therapeutics. However, this complex task will require multiple stage interventions, some easier to achieve than others. For example,
it will be easier to limit the progression of injury than to repair subsequent damage. Of repair strategies on the horizon, harnessing the potential of neural stem cells already present in the CNS or placed there by transplantation appears promising. In fact, using stem cells to remyelinate the damaged cord is an immediate clinical target. Demyelination is an important contributor to disability after spinal cord injury because it incapacitates axons that remain intact at the level of injury. Thus remyelinating those bridging axons would likely improve some important functions, such as bladder and bowel control, limb movement, or respiration. Dr. McDonald will describe recent success with transplanting embryonic stem (ES) cells into the injured rodent spinal cord, focusing on remyelination. This work will be discussed within the context of newly developed concepts in regeneration and with regard to its potential for translation into clinical trials.
Biography
John W. McDonald is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology and Director of the Spinal Cord Injury Unit at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.
Dr. McDonald received his B.S. in Liberal Arts and Science (in Neurosciences) at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. He achieved his combined MD and PhD (Neurosciences) in the Medical Scientist Training Program from the University of Michigan in 1992. After completing research fellowship training at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and residency training at Washington University School of Medicine, he joined the faculty at Washington University School of Medicine as Instructor of Neurology in 1996. Dr. McDonald received a dual appointment as Assistant Professor of Neurology and director of Spinal Cord Injury Unit at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in 1998.
Dr. McDonald's research has been recognized by the: First Award, National Institute of Health, 1997 Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award, National Institute of Health, 1996, Murray Goldstein Award, Neurotrauma Society, 1996, S. Weir Mitchell Award, American Academy of Neurology, 1996, Medical Scientist Training Program Scholarship at the University of Michigan, 1985.
Dr. McDonald is a member of the American Paralysis Consortium on Spinal Cord Injury and over a dozen Professional Societies including the International Neurotrauma Society, the American Neurologic Association, and the American Academy of Neurology. He is a reviewer for multiple scientific research journals including Brain Research, Brain Research Reviews, Experimental Neurology, Journal of Neurochemistry, Journal of Neuroscience, Journal of Neuroscience Methods, Neuroscience, Neuroscience Letters and Pediatric Research.
