Gene Gurkoff

The neurotrauma has a wide-range of research interests.  Some of the projects are translational with the goal of implementing our findings in the lab to patients in the ICU.  Two current studies are investigating therapies to reduce neuronal toxicity following traumatic brain injury, especially in the cases where patients have a secondary insult such as ischemia, hypoxia or seizures.  Additionally the lab is developing a model of neuromodulation (deep brain stimulation) to see if driving specific areas of the injured brain can restore function.  The lab is also collaborating with members of the Lawrence Livermore National Lab to develop a sensor which could be used to better assess the forces involved in mechanical and blast injuries that are prevelant in sports and battle-field related injuries respectively.

 The neurotrauma labs along with CBST also have an ongoing collaboration with Banyan Biomarkers Inc. in Gainesville Florida.  Banyan is interested in developing devices that can measure breakdown products from very specific proteins to assess whether a patient has incurred a brain injury.  The collaboration includes several projects related both to understanding the production and measurement of biomarkers as well as potential therapeutic interventions.

 One additional interest in the lab is neutriceuticals.  Does diet effect the way a brain responds to injury?  In the case of professional and semi-professional atheletes or members of our military, are there things that should be included in their diets like omega-3 fatty acids and anti-oxidents?  If so in what concentration?  When do they have to be consumed relative to time of activity?  Our hope is that by addressing these questions we can design and implement a dietary supplement that protects the brains of individuals who are at risk for TBI.