Junfang Wu, BM, PhD
Neuroinflammation and Neuroprotection Following CNS Trauma
Dr. Wu’s laboratory studies secondary injury processes following traumatic spinal cord and brain injury (SCI/TBI) and pharmacological/gene therapeutic interventions for CNS trauma. Specifically, we focus on: (1) Elucidating molecular mechanisms responsible for SCI-induced brain neuroinflammation. This may lead to effective therapeutic interventions that limit post-SCI cognitive impairment and depression; (2) Demonstrating the function and the mechanisms of autophagy-lysosomal pathway and specific microRNAs in neuronal injury after SCI which could open a potential novel treatment avenue against SCI as well as identifying candidate molecular targets for these manipulations; (3) Identifying the genetic and genomic factors that impact SCI-PAIN as well as identifying new therapeutic targets to reduce or eliminate SCI-PAIN, including a truncated isoform of the BDNF receptor tropomyosin-related kinase B (trkB), trkB.T1, and NADPH oxidase pathways; (4) Examining the function and mechanism of voltage-gated proton channels Hv1 on neuroinflammation and neuropathic pain after experimental SCI and TBI. My ultimate goal is to understand the cellular and molecular mechanism of functional recovery after CNS trauma and also to develop potential therapeutic strategies.
Active Grants
NIH R01 NS094527-05S1 The New Roles of the Autophagy-Lysosomal Pathway in Spinal Cord Injury-Mediated Dementia Junfang Wu Role: PI |
2020-2021 |
NIH R01 NS110825 The Function and Mechanisms of Voltage-Gated Proton Channel Hv1 in Spinal Cord Injury Junfang Wu / Long-Jun Wu (MPI) Role: PI |
2020-2025 |
NIH RF1 NS110637-01 Dementia After Spinal Cord Injury: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targeting Junfang Wu / Steven Jay (MPI) Role: PI |
2019 - 2024 |
NIH R01 1NS110635-01 Mechanism of Inflammatory-related Brain Dysfunction after Spinal Cord Injury Alan Faden / Junfang Wu (MPI) Role: PD/PI |
2019 - 2024 |
NIH R01 NS110567 Targeting Brain Inflammation and Neurological Dysfunction in Sepsis Wei Chao / Junfang Wu / Lin Zou (MPI) Role: PD/PI |
2019 - 2024 |
NIH R01 2NR013601 Spinal Mechanisms Underlying SCI-Induced Pain: Implications for Targeted Therapy Susan Dorsey / Junfang Wu / Alan Faden (MPI) Role: PD/PI |
2012 - 2022 |
NIH R01 NS094527 The Function and Mechanisms of Autophagy in Spinal Cord Injury Junfang Wu (PI) Role: PI |
2016 - 2021 |