Stroke Research at WVU: Hope for the Future WVU MEDICINE STROKE CONFERENCE BRIDGEPORT, WV NOVEMBER 20, 2015 JAMES W. SIMPKINS, PH.D. THE HIGHLAND CHAIR OF STROKE/NEUROLOGY DEPARTMENT OF NEUROLOGY PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF PHYSIOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY DIRECTOR CENTER FOR BASIC & TRANSLATIONAL STROKE RESEARCH Transformative Effects of the WVU Stroke CoBRE Since September 9, 2014, the date of NIGMS funding of the WVU Stroke CoBRE The 7 participants have published 37 papers. The Stroke CoBRE supported research leading to 4 funded grants and 4 grant applications. Funded = DoD, K99/R00, SDG (AHA), and a minority supplement Submitted = 2 F32 applications, 1 F31 application, 1 R01 application We anticipate 5 new R01 applications by February, WVU Stroke CoBRE Cores have a large number of users. Experimental Stroke Core = 25 users Mitochondrial Functional Assessment Core = 9 users + 4 in the cue Rodent Behavior Core = 19 users Scientific Areas of the WVU Stroke CoBRE Junior Investigators Sophie Ren has discovered that a mitochondrial crisis is responsible for poor stroke outcome. Paul Chantler has evidence that metabolic syndrome interferes with cerebrovascular function and brain angiogenesis, and is determining their role in poor stroke outcome. Taura Barr has discovered a set of cellular and genetic biomarkers that predict death and worse outcome in stroke patents. Sergiy Yakovenko is developing neuroprosthetic interventions that couple brain neuronal activity after stroke to improve limb movement. Valeriya Gritsenko is discovering ways to link movement deficits to the pattern of changes in brain activity so as to individualize rehabilitation. Stephanie Frisbee has discovered an association between exposure to perfluoroalkyls and stroke risk, occurrence and severity. Other WV-Specific Research Projects Role of MicroRNAs in Stroke outcome Effects of Fracking chemicals on stroke occurrence and severity. Effects of Infection on stroke severity Lewis, Sarkar et al., Unpublished Observations, MicroRNAs and Stroke NIHSS: 6 within 6 hr; 30 at 24hr Effects of Fracking Chemicals on Mitochondrial Function and Stroke BTEX: Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylene (BTEX input is 81 ppb, BTEX output is 1.7 ppm) Rellick and Simpkins, Unpublished Observations, 2015. Effect of TNF on mitochondrial respiration in HT-22 cells D N Doll, S L Rellick, T L Barr, X Ren and JW Simpkins, J Neurochemistry 132: , 2015. Effects of a bacterial mimic on infract area in C57 BL/6 mice D N Doll, H Hu, J Sun, S E. Lewis, S L. Rellick, J W Simpkins Xuefang Ren, Stroke 46: , 2015. Thank You Questions