Our faculty participate in technology development, basic science and clinical trials with special interest in translational research -- improving the pace by which laboratory findings make their way to patient care. This involves multidisciplinary collaboration among basic research laboratories and multiple clinical subspecialties.
Clinical trials. Our office of clinical trials coordinates and conducts investigational studies for the Department of Neurosurgery. Nurses and physicians in collaboration with the staff at Cincinnati area hospitals (The University, Good Samaritan, and The Christ hospitals), work together to evaluate the safety and efficacy of devices, drugs, procedures and techniques toward improving the quality of patient care. These advancements provide an avenue for academic enrichment while enabling patients to participate in the decision making of their treatment.
<view current clinical trials>
Basic science research. Our research laboratories are located at the UC Medical Center, Vontz Center, Barrett Cancer Center, and Veterans Administration Medical Center. Our department has two NIH funded labs:
Axonal Growth, Neurodegeneration, and ApoE Laboratory initially focused on the regulation of neuronal plasticity (axonal regeneration, sprouting and synaptogenesis) during normal development and following injury to the developing or mature brain. Discoveries have led to more recent emphasis on the role of geometry in CNS regeneration and the role of apoE in Alzheimer's disease. < more details >
Mayfield Neurotrauma Research Laboratory is engaged in brain injury research. We identify effector genes that influence functional recovery (e.g., deficits in neurological reflexes, motor coordination, and cognitive ability) after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Using behavioral pharmacology, biochemistry, histopathology and molecular techniques, we study their effects on TBI-induced inflammatory responses, neural cell death, vascular permeability and metabolism. Genes that regulate arachidonic acid metabolism following TBI are the current focus of the lab. < more details >
