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Dr. Popovich conducts research in the areas of neuroimmunology of spinal cord injury, immunological influences on neuronal degeneration and regeneration, and neuroendocrine influences (e.g., stress/HPA axis activation) on inflammatory mediated injury/repair of the CNS. His laboratory team is an interdisciplinary research group with expertise in diverse areas of CNS injury, inflammation and tissue repair. His current funded supports projects that explore the consequences of resident (e.g., microglia) and recruited inflammatory cell (e.g., macrophages, T-lymphocytes) activation on axonal injury, demyelination and neurological function in models of rat and mouse SCI. Inflammation is an inevitable consequence of tissue damage and is necessary for efficient cell repair. However, acute inflammation also causes “collateral” damage to tissues before repair processes are initiated. In the spinal cord, where most cells are post-mitotic and exhibit poor regenerative/repair potential, inflammation can have devastating consequences. Dr Popovich's research team is striving to develop novel therapies that will manipulate or over-ride normal immune function. |
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