Pedersen Lab
LABORATORY OF Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) & CNS Stem Cell-based 3D Disease Modeling and RNA Therapeutics
Principal Investigator: Irene Munk Pedersen
Pedersen Lab Home
RESEARCH
The primary research interest of the Irene Munk Pedersen (IMP) laboratory is focused on dissecting the neuro-pathobiology and molecular events of CNS disorders including stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), NeuroHIV and the childhood disorder PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections). This research has been hindered by the lack of robust human brain representative model systems to study CNS pathology. To address this scientific bottleneck, we develop novel 3D stem cell -based models employing the microfluidic Mimetas platform which includes flow and allows for the analysis of Neuro-Immune-Vascular circuit responses. Animal models are employed in parallel, when possible and needed. Finally, the 3D BBB/CNS model is uniquely suited for CNS drug screening, testing BBB penetrance, drug efficacy and possible toxicity.
A second line of research fucus of the lab is the development of novel RNA therapeutics including small RNAs (miRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs), as shown in “Other Research Interests 1-3”.
FUNDING
NINDS, NHLBI, NIEHS, NIA, DoD, PANDAS Network
Research 1
miRs role in tumor niche interactions
Research 2
Repair of damaged BBB using miRs
Research 3
miRs as restriction factors controlling mobile elements and retrovirus
