LAB
Stark Neuroscience Research Center
Indiana University School of Medicine
Deng
Our Research
The neuroprotective effect of hypothermia has been demonstrated in both experimental and human spinal cord injury studies. Clinical trials have been initiated. However, the efficacy of the clinical application of hyperthermia to treat spinal cord injury remains significantly limited by delayed initiation of hypothermia in clinical practice. Dr. Deng has applied an FDA-approved and widely used clinic sedative drug rapidly induce up to 16 hours of moderate general hypothermia in ordinary ambient temperature without using any auxiliary cooling equipment. This early onset and long-lasting effect of hypothermia greatly improved both locomotor and bladder voiding functions. The current study focuses on verifying if this drug is superior to the conventional hypothermia in neuroprotection after spinal cord injury; uncovering the neuroprotective mechanism; and optimizing the therapeutic protocol of drug-induced hypothermia.
Research Funding
Inflammasome activation following spinal cord injury and associated bladder dysfunction
Showalter Trust
Plasticity of spinal L3 propriospinal neurons in urination recovery after thoracic SCI
NINDS
Synergistically enhanced neuroprotection via Dexmedetomidine induced early hypothermia and ERK activation after spinal cord injury
Department of Defense
Changes in inflammatory biomarkers from locomotor exercise-induced sex-based recovery after contusive spinal cord injury
Indiana Department of Health