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Stephen M. Strittmatter

 

Neuroscience; Molecular Cell Biology, Genetics & Development

Vincent Coates Professor of Neurology
Professor of Neurobiology

Education

B.A. Harvard College 1980
M.D., Ph.D. Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Research Interests

Our laboratory seeks to explain how axons are guided to the correct sites during development and to describe the extent to which axonal connectivity is fixed or malleable in the adult. Our previous work has identified the myelin-derived inhibitory protein, Nogo, and an axonal Nogo-66 Receptor (NgR) as inhibitors of axonal regeneration after adult brain or spinal injury. The natural function of this system is to limit adult brain plasticity. We are developing blockers of this system using structural biology, mutagenesis, and high-throughput screening methods. Such antagonists are now shown to exhibit dramatic regenerative efficacy in the treatment of CNS injury, including spinal cord trauma and stroke. Beyond axonal development and repair, we have initiated studies of the role of axons in neuronal degeneration in Alzheimer’s Disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

Links

• Strittmatter Homepage

Recent Publications

• Cafferty, W.J., Yang, S.H., Duffy, P., Li, S., and Strittmattter, S.M. (2007). Functional axonal regeneration through astrocytic scar genetically modified to digest Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans. J. Neurosci. 27:2176-2185.
• Park, J.H., Widi, G.A., Gimbel, D.A., Harel, N.Y., Lee, D.H., and Strittmatter, S.M. (2006). Subcutaneous Nogo receptor removes brain amyloid-{beta} and Improves spatial memory in Alzheimer’s transgenic mice. J. Neurosci. 26:13279-13286.

Contact

E-mail
stephen.strittmatter@yale.edu