Research Portfolio

Learn about completed and ongoing projects with the Neuro Omics Core

Spatial Profiling of Normal-Appearing White Matter in Multiple Sclerosis - Dr. Carlos Camara-Lemarroy

Study: Are there transcriptomics changes in the normal-appearing white matter of people with multiple sclerosis compared to healthy controls? 

Platform: Visium HD

The goal is to to investigate if spatial technology will reveal patterns of gene expression that may provide new insights into disease-associated pathways and cellular changes beyond visible lesion pathology.

H&E image of an MS lesion containing tissue sample

Remote Ischemic Conditioning in ALS - Dr. Carlos Camara-Lemarroy

Study: How does remote ischemic conditioning influence the molecular response to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in the SOD1-G93A mouse model?

Platform: Visium HD 

Mapping spatial gene expression within the spinal cord will identify pathways associated with neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, and potential neuroprotective responses to treatment.

Image of the clustering overlay on the a mouse brain section

Remote Ischemic Conditioning in Repeated Mild Brain Injury - Aly Muhammad Salim

Study: How does remote ischemic conditioning alter the molecular response to repeated mild traumatic brain injury?

Platform: Visium HD

Using this spatial platform to provide spatial gene expression data to identify pathways associated with neuroinflammation, tissue repair, and functional recovery

Molecular Profiling of distinct Multiple Sclerosis Lesion types - Dr. Rianne Gorter

Study goal: The aim is to characterize molecular differences between distinct multiple sclerosis lesion types in human brain tissue. Visium HD will provide spatial gene expression data to identify biological pathways associated with lesion pathology and disease progression.

Platform: Visium HD

 

Immune Cell Trafficking in EAE - Dr. Maryam Mobarakabadi

Study goal: The aim is to determine how a targeted genetic knockout affects immune cell trafficking within lymph nodes in an EAE mouse model of multiple sclerosis, with a focus on the role of extracellular matrix proteins. Visium HD will provide spatial gene expression data to identify the molecular mechanisms underlying changes in immune cell localization and migration.

Platform: Visium HD

 

H&E image of 7 lymph node tissues placed expertly within a single 6.5 mm FOV

Blood-Brain Barrier Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis - Yohan Zonta

Study: Cystatin C expression in astrocytes promotes multiple sclerosis (MS)-like disease in females but not males in a model of the disease. To elucidate the mechanism underlying the sex difference, our data thus far indicates that Cystatin C in astrocytes promotes leakiness of the blood brain barrier (BBB) in females. We want to identify the molecular players, if any, that drive permeability of the BBB in females by analyzing the interface between astrocytes and endothelial cells.

Platform: Visium HD

 

H&E image showing four mouse spinal cords aligned to fit within the FOV

Neurotoxic Mechanisms in Demyelinating Lesions - Dr. Atefeh Rayatpour

Study goal: Mapping gene expression across the lesion and surrounding tissue to uncover the molecular pathways driving neuroinflammation and tissue injury in a focal spinal cord lesion model.

Platform: Visium HD