Research
UC Irvine Department of Neurology faculty members are active in many areas of
basic and clinical research for neurological conditions including stroke,
epilepsy, brain aging, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis (ALS), spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis (MS).
Modalities being investigated include advances in neurosurgery as well as new
drug and stem cell therapies. A research priority focuses on building
translational programs, spanning in methodology from basic cellular research and
understanding of disease mechanisms up to test interventions and clinical
studies.
Recent projects include:
- UC Irvine Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center, the first stroke center
certified by the Joint Commission in Southern California, is pursuing efforts to
promote brain repair to reduce post-stroke disability through a range of
approaches, including robotic therapies, cell-based therapies, small molecules,
growth factors and brain stimulation.
- UC Irvine-MDA ALS and Neuromuscular studies through the Western ALS
Consortium deciphered the genetic signature in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(ALS) or Lou Gehrig's disease.
- UC Irvine's Institute for Brain Aging received $7 million from the National
Institutes of Health to continue its ground-breaking 90+ Study, which aims to
identify dementia and disability factors that can be the basis for future
therapies for the very old.
The department engages in multiple key collaborations with local, regional
and national partners that enable groundbreaking innovations.
- A collaboration between UC Irvine-MDA ALS and Neuromuscular Center and
investigators at the Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Center has led to the
development of the first human clinical trial to use human stem cells in the
cellular treatment of motor neuron disorders such as spinal muscular atrophy and
ALS.
If you are a research institution in interested in collaboration
opportunities or would like more information about the department’s research
programs, please contact Olivia Perez at 714.456.6808 or perezo@uci.edu.
View a detailed list of our current
investigations »
