Dr. Dirk De Ridder, University Hospital Antwerp, Belgium
Professor Dirk De Ridder is a neurosurgeon, working in Antwerp, Belgium, whose research is focused on tinnitus. He developed the technique
of electrical auditory cortex stimulation for tinnitus and somatosensory cortex stimulation for pain and recently for auditory hallucinations as well. His expertise
extends beyond tinnitus and he is additionally investigating a diversity of clinical populations with a variety of neuroimaging techniques and neuromodulatory
interventions.
Relevant Publications
Structural brain changes in tinnitus: grey matter decrease in auditory and non-auditory brain areas
The neural correlates of tinnitus-related distress
Burst stimulation of the auditory cortex: a new form of neurostimulation for noise-like tinnitus suppression
Patrick Dougherty, PhD, MD Anderson Cancer Center
Patrick Dougherty is a Professor in the Department of Pain Medicine at MD Anderson Cancer Center. His prior academic experience was as an
Associate Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery and Neuroscience at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He is an expert in preclinical research
relating to chronic pain. His clinical research efforts focus on improving perioperative outcome in surgical and critically ill cancer patients. Cancer patients
often require surgical procedures that expose them to risks of serious complications and death.
Relevant Publications
Spinal cord stimulation relieves chemotherapy-induced pain: a clinical case report
Quantitative sensory findings in patients with bortezomib-induced pain
Michael Kilgard, PhD, University of Texas at Dallas
Michael Kilgard's interests relate to the general principles that underlie the remarkable self-organizing capability of the cerebral cortex.
Understanding how brain networks self-organize themselves is critically important for the development of new rehabilitation therapies for tinnitus, autism, dyslexia,
stroke, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's disease. The primary aim of experiments in his laboratory is to learn how sensory experience and behavioral motivation influence
cortical plasticity so that these factors can be manipulated for therapeutic benefit. His lab has recently demonstrated that pairing sounds with electrical stimulation
of the vagus nerve can generate specific and long lasting plasticity that is indistinguishable from nucleus basalis. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is well tolerated
in humans and his lab has recently shown that pairing tones with VNS is sufficient to reverse chronic tinnitus in rats. His lab has begun studies to determine whether
VNS directed plasticity could be used to treat other conditions.
Relevant Publications
Effects of damage to auditory cortex on the discrimination of speech sounds by rats
Effect of the environment on the dendritic morphology of the rat auditory cortex
Experience Dependent Plasticity Alters Cortical Synchronization
Cortical Map Reorganization Without Cholinergic Modulation
Sensory Input Directs Spatial and Temporal Plasticity in Primary Auditory Cortex
Nucleus Basalis Activity Enables Cortical Map Reorganization
Paul Lockman, PhD, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Dr. Lockman earned his B.S. in Nursing from West Texas A&M University. He practiced in intensive care, clinical toxicology and emergency medicine, then
went on to earn his Ph.D. (Pharmaceutical Sciences) at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at the School of Pharmacy. Dr. Lockman's
research interests include drug and nutrient transporters at the blood-brain barrier, as well as alterations in the neurovasculature in metastatic brain tumors and chronic nicotine
exposure.
Relevant Publications
Uptake of ANG1005 - a Novel paclitaxel derivative,Through the blood-brain barrier into brain and experimental brain metastases of breast cancer
Vorinostat inhibits brain metastatic colonization in a model of triple-negative breast cancer and induces DNA double strand breaks
Nanoparticle technology for drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier
Christa McIntyre, PhD, University of Texas at Dallas
Information acquired during daily encounters is not readily encoded into memory, but requires some effort or rehearsal to be preserved. In contrast, experiences
that are either arousing or emotionally meaningful in content appear to be permanently stored into memory without conscious effort. Christa McIntyre's research is aimed at understanding
the effect of emotional arousal on memory storage. This research is aimed at gaining information regarding the neuronal signals that determine whether a memory will be stored for the long
term and may shed some light on the precise mechanisms involved in the synaptic changes that underlie memory. Such knowledge may ultimately be used to benefit individuals suffering from
various memory disorders including Alzheimer's disease and post traumatic stress disorder.
Relevant Publications
Memory-enhancing corticosterone treatment increases amygdala norepinephrine and Arc protein expression in hippocampal synaptic fractions
Glucocorticoid effects on memory consolidation depend on functional interactions between the medial prefrontal cortex and basolateral amygdale
Memory-influencing intra-basolateral amygdala drug infusions modulate expression of Arc protein in the hippocampus
Robert Rennaker, PhD, University of Texas at Dallas
Robert Rennaker's research has two main foci. The first is the development of Neural Interface systems. Rennaker received and RO1 from NINDS for the development
of a wireless distributed neural interface in May of 2009. The second research focus is systems level neuroscience. Rennaker has an R01 from NIDCD to study olfactory encoding of odorants.
Other interests include auditory neuroscience, plasticity and attention.
Relevant Publications
Frequency discrimination in rats measured with tone-step stimuli and discrete pure tones
Olfactory perceptual stability and discrimination
Electromagnetic power absorption and temperature changes due to brain machine interface operation
Robert Spears, PhD, Texas A&M Health Science Center
Dr. Robert Spears has focused his research efforts towards the elucidation of signal transduction mechanisms during inflammatory joint diseases using an animal
model of adjuvant-induced inflammation of the temporomandibular joint. Of particular interest is the role that different inflammatory mediators may play in the process, with emphasis
upon the interaction between elements of the immune and nervous system. He is presently using cell and tissue culture techniques to investigate potential involvement of apoptosis in
the onset and exacerbation of inflammation. Additionally, Dr. Spears serves as the Director for Student Research at BCD as well as serving as one of the two American Association of
Dental Research National Student Research Faculty Advisors.
Relevant Publications
Capsaicin sensitive neurons role in the inflamed TMJ acute nociceptive response of female and male rats
Growth factors and signaling proteins in craniofacial development
Adjuvant application results in altered levels of inflammatory mediators in the trigeminal ganglion and tssues of the temporomandibular joint
Paul Yoo, PhD, Duke University Medical Center
Paul Yoo is an assistant research professor working in the Duke Biomedical Engineering Department. His research is in the area of electrical stimulation to control neural function.
He has authored several studies on pudendal and sacral nerve stimulation for the treatment of urinary incontinence.
Relevant Publications
Bladder activation by selective stimulation of pudendal nerve afferents in the cat
Minimally-invasive electrical stimulation of the pudendal nerve: A pre-clinical study for neural control of the lower urinary tract
Multiple Pudendal Sensory Pathways Reflexly Modulate Bladder and Urethral Activity in Patients With Spinal Cord Injury
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