School of Medicine

Joyce A. Benjamins Ph.D. Associate Chair, Research Department of Neurology

In basic research, several faculty members apply cellular and molecular approaches to fundamental questions of glial and neuron biology, with emphasis on strategies for protection and repair following cell injury. Others focus on mutations in genes involved in myelination to examine the molecular basis of that process, and the signals that mediate interactions between myelin forming cells, axons and neurons in the brain and nerves. Several investigators examine models of immune mediated damage, protection, and disease modification, focusing on blood brain barrier and angiogenesis, cell trafficking in the central nervous system, and the roles of cytokines, chemokines and immune cells in the control of disease in an animal model of multiple sclerosis. Strong programs in myelin diseases, neuromuscular diseases and pediatric epilepsy are translational in nature, with components that are both laboratory-based and patient-based. These programs utilize neurogenetics, neuroimmunology, brain imaging, gene transfer therapy and microarray technology to translate research discoveries to strategies for treatment of disease.

Click here to learn more about the research laboratories within Department of Neurology, WSU School of Medicine.