John C. Gensel, PhD, of the University of Kentucky Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center in Lexington, received a $1.6 million grant from the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke, according to University of Kentucky News.
Here are five key points:
1. Dr. Gensel will use the funds to research the impact of the immune system on repairing spinal cord injuries.
2. White blood cells called macrophages involved in the immune system tend to go toward spinal cord injury areas. The cells are involved in pro-inflammatory and pro-tissue function at the injury site.
3. Dr. Gensel will research why macrophages only sometimes help with wound healing. He hopes to pinpoint how the cells evolve into this role, so scientists can develop drugs that encourage this type of macrophage production.
4. Further, Dr. Gensel will analyze the affect of age and gender on macrophages assumed roles in spinal cord injury repair.
5. Dr. Gensel received his doctorate in neuroscience from The Ohio State University in Columbus.