Seminar topic: Immune and metabolic control of sensorimotor physiology and repair

I am a Professor of Neuroscience at Imperial College where I hold a Harnett Chair in Restorative Neuroscience and where I lead a research group that investigates physiological and injury mechanisms of the sensorimotor system. I am also a consultant Neurologist within the Imperial NHS Trust.  My research and clinical work have broad implications for conditions spanning from traumatic, vascular, inflammatory, degenerative and metabolic damage to the spinal cord, spinal roots and peripheral nerves and for pain syndromes in the nervous system. Previously, since 2006, I worked at the University of Tuebingen, Germany as a Research Group Leader, where I was also a consultant clinician in Stroke and General Neurology.I did my post-doctoral training in Neuroscience studying gene expression regulation after spinal cord injury at Georgetown University, Washington DC, 2001-2004 where I became research Instructor (2004-2006). I studied Medicine at La Sapienza University and did my Neurology training at Catholic University, Rome, Italy.

Research in my group aims to investigate the molecular signalling mechanisms that discriminate between axonal regeneration and regenerative failure including following peripheral and spinal cord injuries respectively.

Since axonal regeneration, wound healing and repair in the nervous system are imperfect and inefficient, enhancing the regenerative properties and wound healing in the injured central nervous system is critical to promote recovery of function and limit neurological disability in both spinal cord and peripheral nerve disorders.

The lab studies how environmental factors including dietary regimens and physical activity affect metabolism and immunity that in turn can influence physiology and repair in the sensorimotor system to optimise sensorimotor function. Our work has broad implications for conditions spanning from traumatic, vascular, inflammatory, degenerative and metabolic damage to the spinal cord, spinal roots and peripheral nerves.