Traumatic damage to the brain and spinal cord constitutes some of the most devastating central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Our multidisciplinary team of investigators focuses on studies to advance diagnosis, treatment and repair of CNS damage.
This research group uses contemporary cellular, molecular, behavior and electrophysiological approaches to study the initiating and evolving mechanisms of pathogenesis, therapeutic targets to attenuate damage, and delayed interventions to expedite recovery and repair.
The faculty in the Department of Neuroscience and Anatomy, in collaboration with basic and clinical scientists from other academic units, are dedicated to studying ways to:
- Enhance patient management through diagnostics
- Improve overall outcomes after traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Lessen secondary insults
- Promote regeneration
Faculty
Jeffrey L. Dupree, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Jeffrey L. Dupree, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Neuroscience and Anatomy
Phone: 804-828-9536
Email: jeffrey.dupree@vcuhealth.org
Kimberle M. Jacobs, PhD
Associate Professor
Kimberle M. Jacobs, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Neuroscience and Anatomy
Phone: 804-827-2135
Pamela E. Knapp, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair
Pamela E. Knapp, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair
Department of Neuroscience and Anatomy
Phone: 804-628-7570
Email: pamela.knapp@vcuhealth.org
Audrey D. Lafrenaye, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Audrey D. Lafrenaye, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Neuroscience and Anatomy
Phone: 804-828-0527
Andrew Ottens, Ph.D.
Professor
Andrew Ottens, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Neuroscience and Anatomy
Phone: 804-828-1573
Fax: 804-828-9477
Email: andrew.ottens@vcuhealth.org
John T. Povlishock, PhD
Professor, Retired
John T. Povlishock, PhD
Professor, Retired
Anatomy and Neurobiology
Phone: 804-828-9403
Dong Sun, MD, PhD
Professor
Dong Sun, MD, PhD
Professor
Department of Neuroscience and Anatomy
Phone: 804-828-1318
Fax: 804-828-3276
Email: dong.sun@vcuhealth.org
Ongoing Projects
Faculty: Babette Fuss, Ph.D.
Sponsor: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke/NIH
Cost: $426,938
Duration: July 9, 2024 – June 6, 2026
Project Description:
Faculty: Babette Fuss, Ph.D.
Sponsor: National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Cost: $599,999
Duration: April 1, 2025 - March 31, 2028
Project Description:
Faculty: Babette Fuss, PhD
Sponsor: University of Texas at San Antonio
Cost: $34,350
Duration: April 1, 2021 - December 31, 2025
Project Description:
Faculty: Audrey Lafrenaye, PhD
Sponsor: National Institute on Drug Abuse/NIH
Cost: $1,627,616
Duration: August 1, 2023 - July 31, 2027
Project Description:
MPI: Philip Gerk, PhD
Faculty: Audrey Lafrenaye, Phd
Sponsor: Department of Defense
Cost: $751,038
Duration: September 30, 2024 - September 29, 2027
Project Description:
Faculty: Dong Sun, PhD
Sponsor: Commonwealth Health Research Board
Cost: $200,000
Duration: July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2027
Project Description:
Faculty: Pamela Knapp, Ph.D.
Sponsor: National Institute on Drug Abuse
Cost: $2,956,903
Duration: September 1, 2016 – June 30, 2021
Project Description: These studies investigate whether methamphetamine-induced reversal of latent HIV in microglia is driven by neuronal injury. In vitro human and rodent models are used.
Faculty: Audrey Lafrenaye, Ph.D.
Sponsor: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Cost: $1,334,376
Duration: December 1, 2016 – November 30, 2021
Project Description: These studies focus on elucidating the relationship that secondary post-injury intracranial pressure elevation has to behavioral morbidity and diffuse pathological progressions, with a focus on diffuse neuronal membrane disruption and investigations into novel therapeutic interventions targeting this pathology.
Faculty: Adam “Rory” McQuiston, Ph.D., Dong Sun, Ph.D.
Sponsor: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Cost: $1,602,581
Duration: June 1, 2016 – May 31, 2021
Project Description: This project will develop a biomaterial-based cell transplantation strategy to improve neural structural repair and enhance long term survival and functional integration of transplanted iPSCs achieving the goal of repair and regeneration of the injured pediatric brain.
Faculty: Andrew Ottens, Ph.D.
Sponsor: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Cost: $5,272,937
Duration: August 1, 2019 – July 31, 2024
Project Description: This study will examine vascular, placental and amniotic effects of inhaled pollutants in preclinical models of vulnerability to hypertension of pregnancy.
Faculty: Andrew Ottens, Ph.D.
Sponsor: National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety
Cost: $1,600,000
Duration: September 30, 2015 – September 30, 2021
Project Description: The project addresses mechanisms underlying lung-vascular-brain systemic route of injury following occupational exposure to carbon nanomaterials. A key outcome of this research is identifying circulating proteolytic peptide products as bioactive mediators in driving cerebrovascular dysfunction and neuroinflammation.
Faculty: Dong Sun, Ph.D.
Sponsor: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Cost: $1,529,422
Duration: February 1, 2017 – January 31, 2022
Project Description: The goal of this project is to examine the importance of Notch signaling in regulating neural stem cell activation in response to brain trauma and its role in post-TBI neuroplasticity.