Professor, Zoology and Surgery
Associate Director ICORD
Man in Motion Chair in Spinal Cord Research
Research in the Tetzlaff laboratory is focused on preclinical treatments for spinal cord injury. We work on strategies to prevent secondary damage in the early phase (days to weeks) after injury as well as on repair strategies for the chronically injured spinal cord. We discovered in rodents that secondary damage and functional recovery from spinal cord injury can be significantly improved by dietary regimen applied in the weeks following injury. In order to promote regeneration and repair of the chronically injured cord we are transplanting so-called Schwann cells from skin-derived progenitor cells. These cells can integrate into chronically injured spinal cords and promote axonal regeneration and functional recovery. It is our goal to provide a solid preclinical basis in support of clinical trials exploiting these treatment strategies.