Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center

FACULTY

Sofroniew, Michael V., M.D., Ph.D.

Research

Neural injury and repair

Appointments

  • Professor, Neurobiology
  • Member, Brain Research Institute
  • CTSI
  • Neuroengineering Training Program
  • Neuroscience GPB Home Area

Biography

Our work is directed at achieving a better understanding of the cell biology of the response to injury in the adult central nervous system.

We are particularly interested in the roles played by specific cell types (e.g. astroglia) and specific molecules (e.g. growth factors and cytokines) in mediating neuroprotection, regulating inflammation and determining the capacity for regeneration.

Our studies are based largely on systems-level analysis in transgenic mouse models. Specific techniques employed include microsurgery, tissue culture, grafting (also from precursor cells and genetically modified cells), immunohistochemistry, tract-tracing, quantitative morphometry, and various molecular biological techniques associated with generating, maintaining, and evaluating transgenic mice.

Publications

  1. O'Shea, TM, Ao, Y, Wang, S, Ren, Y, Cheng, AL, Kawaguchi, R et al.. Derivation and transcriptional reprogramming of border-forming wound repair astrocytes after spinal cord injury or stroke in mice. Nat Neurosci. 2024;27 (8):1505-1521. doi: 10.1038/s41593-024-01684-6. PubMed PMID:38907165 PubMed Central PMC11303254.
  2. Skinnider, MA, Gautier, M, Teo, AYY, Kathe, C, Hutson, TH, Laskaratos, A et al.. Single-cell and spatial atlases of spinal cord injury in the Tabulae Paralytica. Nature. 2024;631 (8019):150-163. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07504-y. PubMed PMID:38898272 .
  3. Sofroniew, MV. Astrocyte cells in the brain have immune memory. Nature. 2024;627 (8005):744-745. doi: 10.1038/d41586-024-00676-7. PubMed PMID:38509288 .
  4. Liddelow, SA, Olsen, ML, Sofroniew, MV. Reactive Astrocytes and Emerging Roles in Central Nervous System (CNS) Disorders. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2024;16 (7):. doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041356. PubMed PMID:38316554 PubMed Central PMC11216178.
  5. Gleichman, AJ, Kawaguchi, R, Sofroniew, MV, Carmichael, ST. A toolbox of astrocyte-specific, serotype-independent adeno-associated viral vectors using microRNA targeting sequences. Nat Commun. 2023;14 (1):7426. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-42746-w. PubMed PMID:37973910 PubMed Central PMC10654773.
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