The Center for Neural Development and Repair focuses on neurodevelopmental disorders and traumatic brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerve injuries in children and adults.  

Our three research teams are highly interactive and share their expertise to identify genetic, cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie these conditions, with the goal of developing new treatments and therapies. These teams also collaborate with multiple departments and centers, including ACT, CSAR, Ob/Gyn, Bioengineering, Fox Chase Cancer Center and the Center for Neurovirology and Gene Editing.  

Neurodevelopmental disorders 
This team focuses on the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie stem cell fate choices by controlling proliferation, differentiation, and migration within the developing brain and spinal cord. They also seek to understand how these processes are impaired in conditions such as microcephaly, hydrocephalus, neural tube defects and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.  

This group has discovered potential molecular biomarkers for early diagnosis of neural tube defects. It also is pioneering the use of exosomes from maternal blood to identify possible biomarkers for early diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and their potential severity.  

Brain and spinal cord injury  
This team studies how brain and nerve cells are affected by traumatic injuries and works on creating treatments to help the nervous system heal and adapt (neural regeneration and plasticity).  

Their discoveries have led to a better understanding of the factors that stop nerves from regenerating, and they have identified new therapies to overcome regenerative blocks and promote functional recovery.  

Since rehabilitation is vital for recovery, they are also coupling rehabilitation with gene therapy and electrical stimulation to boost functional recovery by stimulating nerve cell growth around the damaged brain or spinal cord area.   

Additionally, they are studying how non-neuronal cells and glial progenitors support wound healing and improve nerve function after spinal cord injury and in neurodegenerative disorders.  

Peripheral nerve and neuromuscular disorders 
This team studies how axons break down, grow new branches, and heal after sudden nerve injuries or long-term neuropathic conditions.  

Acutely injured peripheral nerves can regenerate but fail to grow across the peripheral nerve/spinal cord border, so the team’s research into this area may help prevent injury-induced loss of sensory perception and motor control to muscles.  

Chronic neuropathies such as those associated with chemotherapy and diabetes affect millions of people. Identifying what drives axon degeneration in these conditions may identify treatments that greatly improve outcomes for a wide variety of patients.  

State-of-the-art technologies 
All CNDR labs use an array of cutting-edge techniques: 

• Molecular-level approaches — single cell RNA-Seq, next generation sequencing, RNAscope, confocal and TiRF imaging, and organoid and microfluidic model systems. 
• Circuit and behavioral-level analyses — kinematics, lightsheet microscopy, neural electrophysiology, and advanced neural circuit mapping.  

We are always interested in new collaborations and welcome inquiries from potential future members.