Affiliations

Professor of Pharmacology and Neurobiology
Director, VA Rehabilitation R&D Center of Excellence for Restoration of Function in SCI and MS
Director, Center for Neuroscience and Regeneration ResearchVisiting Professor, University College, London

Education

A.B., cum laude, Harvard College 1967
Ph.D., Albert Einstein College of Medicine 1970
M.D., Albert Einstein College of Medicine 1972
M.A., (Hon.), Yale University 1986

Research Interests

Molecular neurobiology of diseases of the nervous system, with special emphasis on neural plasticity, functional recovery, and regeneration. Ion channel organization of neurons and glial cells. Disease targets include spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, peripheral nerve injury, and stroke.

Selected Publications

Drenth JP, Waxman SG.  Mutations in sodium-channel gene SCN9A cause a spectrum of human genetic pain disorders. J Clin Invest. 2007 Dec; 117 (12):3603-9.

Waxman SG. Channel, neuronal and clinical function in sodium channelopathies: from genotype to phenotype. Nat Neurosci. 2007 Apr;10(4):405-9.

Kocsis JD, Waxman SG. Schwann cells and their precursors for repair of central nervous system myelin. Brain. 2007 Aug;130(Pt 8):1978-80. Epub 2007 Jul 11

Waxman SG, Hains BC. Fire and phantoms after spinal cord injury: Na+ channels and central pain. Trends Neurosci. 2006; 29(4):207-15.

Waxman SG, Dib-Hajj S. Erythermalgia: molecular basis for an inherited pain syndrome. Trends Mol Med. 2005; 11(12):555-62.

Dib-Hajj, S., Rush, A,Cummins, T., Hisama, F., Novella, S., Tyrrell, L, Marshall, L, Waxman, S.G., Gain-of-function Mutation of Nav1.7 in Familial Erythromelalgia Induces Bursting of Sensory Neurons, Brain, 2005.

Rush, A., Dib-Hajj, S., Waxman, S.G., Electrophysiological Properties of Two Axonal Sodium Channels, Nav1.2 and Nav1.6, Expressed in Spinal Sensory Neurons, J. Physiol., 2005

Waxman, S.G and Dib-Hajj, S., Erythromelalgia: a Hereditary Pain Syndrome Enters the Molecular Era, Annals of Neurology, 2005

Craner M.J., Damarjian T.G., Liu S, Hains B.C., Lo A.C., Black J.A., Newcombe J, Cuzner M.L, Waxman S.G., Sodium Channels Contribute to Microglia/macrophage Activation and Function in EAE and MS, Glia, 49, 220-229, 2005

Wittmack E.K., Rush A.M., Craner M.J., Goldfarb M., Waxman S.G., Dib-Hajj, S.D., Fibroblast Growth Factor Homologous Factor 2B: Association With Nav1.6 and Selective Co-localization At Nodes of Ranvier of Dorsal Root Sensory Axons, J. Neurosci, 28, 636-649, 2005

Sasaki, M., Hains, B.C., Lankford, K.L., Waxman, S.G., Kocsis, J.D. (2006) Protection of coricospinal tract neurons following dorsal spinal cord transection and engraftment of olfactory ensheathing cells., Glia, 53(4):352-9.

Wittmack, E.K., Rush, A.M., Hudmon, A., Waxman, S.G., Dib-Hajj, S.D. (2005) Voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.6 is modulated by p38 MAP kinase., J. Neurosci, 25 (6621), 6630

Klein, J. P., Hains, B.C., Craner, M. J., Black, J. A., Waxman, S. G , Apoptosis of vasopressinergic hypothalamic neurons in chronic diabetes mellitus, Neurobiology of Disease, 15, 221-228, 2004

Craner, M. J., Hains, B. C., Lo, A. C., Black, J. A., Waxman, S. G, Co-localization of sodium channel Nav1.6 and the sodium-calcium exchanger at sites of axonal injury in the spinal cord in EAE, Brain, 127, 294-303, 2004

Craner, M.J., Newcombe, J., Black, J.A.,, Molecular Changes in Neurons in MS: Altered Axonal Expression of Nav1.2 and Nav1.6 Sodium Channels and Na+ /Ca2+ Exchanger, Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, 101(8168-8173), 2004

Hains, B.C., Saab, C.Y., Lo, A.C., Waxma, Sodium Channel Blockade With Phenytoin Protects Spinal Cord Axons, Enhances Axonal Conduction, and Improves Functional Motor Recovery After Contusion SCI, Experimental Neurology, 188(366-377), 2004

Saab, C., Y., Craner, M. J., Kataoka, Y., Abnormal Purkinje Cell Activity in Vivo in Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis, Experimental Brain Research, 158(1-8), 2004

Hains, B.C., Saab, C.Y., Klein, J.P., Cr, Altered Sodium Channel Expression in Second-order Spinal Sensory Neurons Contributes to Pain After Peripheral Nerve Injury, Journal of Neuroscience, 24(4832-4841), 2004

Black, J.A., Liu, S, Tanaka, M, Cummins,, Changes in the Expression of Tetrodotoxin-sensitive Sodium Channels Within Dorsal Root Ganglia Neurons in Inflammatory Pain, Pain, 108(237-247), 2004

Waxman, S.G., Craner, M., Black, JA, Sodium Channel Expression Along Axons in MS and Its Models, Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, 25, 584-592, 2004

Cummins, T., Dib-Hajj, JS, and Waxman, S.G., Electrophysiological Properties of Mutant Nav1.7 Sodium Channels in a Painful Inherited Neuropathy, J. Neurosci., 24, 8232-8238, 2004

Shah B.S., Rush A.M., Liu S, Tyrrell L, Black J.A., Dib-Hajj S.D, Waxman S.G., Contactin Associates with Sodium Channel Nav1.3 in Native Tissues and Increases Channel Density At the Cell Surface, J. Neurosci, 24, 7387-7399, 2004

Liu, C., Dib-Hajj, S. D., Renganathan, M., Cummins, T. R., Waxman, S. G., Modulation of the cardiac sodium channel Nav1.5 by fibroblast growth factor homologous factor 1B, Journal of Biological Chemistry, 278, 1029-1036, 2003

Black, J. A., Cummins, T. R., Yoshimura, N., deGroat, W. C., Waxman, S. G., Tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium channels Nav1.8/SNS and Nav1.9/NaN in afferent neurons innervating urinary bladder in control and spinal cord injured rats, Brain Research, 963, 132-138, 2003

Lo, A. C., Saab, C. Y., Black, J. A., Waxman, S. G., Phenytoin protects spinal cord axons and preserves axonal conduction and neurological function in a model of neuroinflammation in vivo, Journal of Neurophysiology, 90, 3566-3572, 2003

Waxman, S.G., NO and the Axonal Death Cascade, Annals of Neurology, 53, 150-154, 2003

Tokuno H.A., Kocsis J.D., Waxman S.G., Non-activating, TTX-sensitive Na+ Conductance in Peripheral Axons, Muscle and Nerve, 28, 212-217, 2003

Weisman D, Hisama F, Waxman S.G, Blumenfeld H, Going Deep to Cut the Link: Cortical Disconnection Syndrome Caused By a Thalamic Lesion, Neurology, 60, 1865-1866, 2003

Baker M.D., Chandra S.Y, Ding Y, Waxman S.G., Wood J.N., GTP-induced Tetrodoxin-resistant Na+ Current Regulates Excitability in Mouse and Rat Small Diameter Sensory Neurones, J. Physiol, 548.2, 373-383, 2003

Hains B.C., Black J.A., Waxman S.G., Primary Cortical Motor Neurons Undergo Apoptosis Following Axotomizing Spinal Cord Injury, J. Comp Neurol, 462, 328-341, 2003

Craner M, Lo A.C., Black J.A., Waxman S.G., Abnormal Sodium Channel Distribution in Optic Nerve Axons in a Model of Inflammatory Demyelination, Brain, 126, 1552-1561, 2003.

Herzog R.I., Liu C, Waxman S.G., Cummins T.R., Calmodulin Binds to the C-terminus of Sodium Channels Nav1.4 and Nav1.6 and Differentially Modulates Their Functional Properties, J. Neurosci, 23, 8261-8270, 2003

Klein J.P., Waxman S.G., The Brain in Diabetes: Molecular Changes in Neurons and Their Implications for End-organ Damage, The Lancet Neurology, 2, 548-554, 2003

Herzog, R.I., Cummins T.R., Ghassemi F, Dib-Hajj, S., Waxman S.G., Distinct Repriming and Closed-state Inactivation Kinetics of Nav1.6 and Nav1.7 Sodium Channels in Spinal Sensory Neurons, J. Physiol (Lond), 551, 741-751, 2003

Hains, B.C., Klein J.P., Saab C.Y, Craner, M., Black J.A., Waxman S.G., Upregulation of Sodium Channel Nav1.3 and Functional Involvement in Neuronal Hyperexcitability Associated With Central Neuropathic Pain After Spinal Cord Injury, J. Neurosci, 23, 8881-8892, 2003

Lo, A. C., Black, J. A., Waxman, S. G., Neuroprotection of axons with phenytoin in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis, NeuroReport, 13, 1909-1912, 2002

Craner, M. J., Klein, J. P., Renganathan, M., Black, J. A., Waxman, S. G., Changes of sodium channel expression in experimental painful diabetic neuropathy, Annals of Neurology, 52, 786-793, 2002

Fang, X., Djouhri, L., Black, J. A., Dib-Hajj, S. D., Waxman, S. G., Lawson, S. N., The presence and role of the TTX resistant sodium channel Nav1.8 (NaN) in nociceptive primary afferent neurons, Journal of Neuroscience, 22, 7425-7433, 2002

Klein, J. P, Craner, M. J., Cummins, T. R., Black, J. A., Waxman, S. G., Sodium channel expression in hypothalamic osmosensitive neurons in experimental diabetes, NeuroReport, 13, 1481-1485, 2002

Waxman, S. G., Ion channels and neuronal dysfunction in multiple sclerosis, Archives of Neurology, 59, 1377-1380, 2002

Leffler, A., Cummins, T. R., Dib-Hajj, S. D., Hormuzdiar, W. N., Black, J. A., Waxman, S. G., Glial-derived neurotrophic factor and nerve growth factor reverse changes in repriming of TTX-sensitive Na+ currents following anatomy of dorsal root ganglion neurons, Journal of Neurophysiology, 88, 650-660, 2002

Dib-Hajj S., Black, J. A., Cummins, T. R., Waxman, S. G., NaN/Nav1.9: a sodium channel with unique properties, Trends in Neurosciences, 25, 253-259, 2002

Black, J. A., Renganathan, M., Waxman, S. G., Sodium channel Nav1.6 is expressed along nonmyelinated axons and it contributes to conduction, Molecular Brain Research, 105, 19-28, 2002

Black, J. A., Waxman, S. G., Molecular identities of two tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium channels in corneal axons, Experimental Eye Research, 75, 193-199, 2002

Renganathan, M., Cummins, T. R., Waxman, S. G., Nitric oxide blocks fast, slow, and persistent Na+ channels in C-type DRG neurons by S-nitrosylation, Journal of Neurophysiology, 87, 761-775, 2002

Waxman, S. G., Cummins, T. R., Black, J. A., Dib-Hajj, S. D., Diverse functions and dynamic expression of neuronal sodium channels, Sodium Channels and Neuronal Hyperexcitability, 34-60, 2002

Tyrrell, L., Renganathan, M., Dib-Hajj, S. D., Waxman, S. G., Glycosylation alters steady-state inactivation of sodium channel Nav1.9/NaN in DRG neurons and is developmentally regulated, Journal of Neuroscience, 21, 9629-9638, 2001

Black, J. A., Dib-Hajj, S. D., Cummins, T. R., Okuse, K., Baker, M., Wood, J. N., Waxman, S. G., Sodium channels as therapeutic targets in neuropathic pain, Neuropathic Pain: Pathophysiology and Treatment, 19-36, 2001

Waxman, S. G., Transcriptional channelopathies: an emerging class of disorders, Nature Reviews. Neuroscience, 2, 652-659, 2001

Herzog, R. I., Cummins, T. R., Waxman, S. G., Persistent TTX-resistant Na+ current affects resting potential and response to depolarization in simulated spinal sensory neurons, Journal of Neurophysiology, 86, 1351-1364, 2001

Cummins, T. R., Aglieco, F., Renganathan, M., Herzog, R. I., Dib-Hajj, S. D., Waxman, S. G., Nav1.3 sodium channels: rapid repriming and slow closed-state inactivation display quantitative differences following expression in a mammalian cell line and in spinal sensory neurons, Journal of Neuroscience, 21, 5952-5961, 2001

Renganathan, M., Cummins, T. R., Waxman, S. G., Contribution of Nav1.8 sodium channels to action potential electrogenesis in DRG neurons, Journal of Neurophysiology, 86, 629-640, 2001

Liu, C., Dib-Hajj, S. D., Waxman, S. G., Fibroblast growth factor homogous factor (FHF) 1B binds to the C-terminus of the tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium channel rNAv1.9a (NaN), Journal of Biological Chemistry, 276, 18925-18933, 2001

Waxman, S. G., Acquired channelopathies in nerve injury and multiple sclerosis, Neurology, 56, 1621-1627, 2001

Waxman, S. G., Loss and restoration of impulse conduction in disorders of myelin, Handbook of Multiple Sclerosis, 3rd Edition, 257-289, 2001

Liu C, Dib-Hajj S.D., Black J.A., Greenwood J., Lian Z, Waxman S.G., Direct Interaction With Contactin Targets Voltage-gated Sodium Channel Nav1.9/NaN to the Cell Membrane, J. Biol Chem, 276, 46553-46562, 2001

Tyrrell L, Renganathan M, Dib-Hajj S.D., Waxman S.G., Glycosylation Alters Steady-state Inactivation of Sodium Channel Nav1.9/NaN in DRG Neurons and Is Developmentally Regulated, J. Neurosci, 21, 9629-9638, 2001

Robert A, Howe JR, Waxman SG, Development of glutamatergic synaptic activity in cultured spinal neurons., Journal of Neurophysiology, 83(2), 659-70, 2000

Waxman, S. G., The neuron as a dynamic electrogenic machine: Modulation of sodium channel expression as a basis for functional plasticity in neurons, Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. Lond. B, 355, 199-213, 2000

Black, J. A., Dib-Hajj, S., Baker, D., Newcombe, J., Cuzner, M. L., Waxman, S. G., Sensory neuron specific sodium channel SNS is abnormally expressed in the brains of mice with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis and humans with multiple sclerosis, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 97, 11598-11602, 2000

Cummins, T. R., Black, J. A., Dib-Hajj, S. D., Waxman, S. G., GDNF up-regulates expression of functional SNS and NaN sodium channels and their currents in axotomized DRG neurons, Journal of Neuroscience, 20, 8754-8761, 2000

Black, J. A., Dib-Hajj, S., Baker, D., Newcombe, J., Cuzner, M. L., Waxman, S. G., Sensory neuron specific sodium channel SNS is abnormally expressed in the brains of mice with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis and humans with multiple sclerosis, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 97, 11598-11602, 2000

Black, J. A., Dib-Hajj-, S., Cummins, T. R., Black, J. A., Sodium channels and their genes: dynamic expression in the normal nervous system, dysregulation in disease states, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 886, 5-14, 2000

Sleeper, A. A., Cummins, T. R., Hormuzdiar, W., Tyrrell, L., Dib-Hajj, S. D., Waxman, S. G., Black, J. A., Changes in expression of two tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium channels and their currents in dorsal root ganglion neurons following sciatic nerve injury, but not rhizotomy, Journal of Neuroscience, 20, 7279-7289, 2000

Renganathan, M., Cummins, T. R., Hormuzdiar, W. N., Black, J. A., Waxman, S. G., Nitric oxide is an autocrine regulator of Na+ currents in axotomized C-type DRG neurons, Journal of Neurophysiology, 83, 2431-2443, 2000.

Waxman, S. G., Multiple sclerosis as a neuronal disease, Archives of Neurology, 57, 22-24, 2000

Waxman, S.G., De "demyelinating" Diseases Involve More Than Myelin?, Nature Medicine, 6, 739-740, 2000

Cummins T.R., Dib-Hajj S.D., Black J.A., Waxman S.G., Sodium Channels and the Molecular Pathophysiology of Pain, Progr. Brain Research, 129, 3-22, 2000

Waxman S.G., Dib-Hajj, S, Cummins T.R., Black J.A., Sodium Channels and Their Genes: Dynamic Expression in the Normal Nervous System, Dysregulation in Disease States, Brain Research, 886, 5-14, 2000

Goldin A.L, Barchi R.L, Caldwell J.H., Hofmann F, Howe J.R., Hunter J.C., Kallen R.G., Mandel G, Meisler M.H, Netter Y.B., Tamkun M.M., Waxman S.G, Wood J.N, Catterall W.A., Nomenclature of Voltage-gated Sodium Channels, Neuron, 28, 365-368, 2000

Dib-Hajj SD, Fjell J, Cummins TR, Zheng Z, Fried K, LaMotte R, Black JA, Waxman SG, Plasticity of sodium channel expression in DRG neurons in the chronic constriction injury model of neuropathic pain., Pain, 83(3), 591-600, December 1999

Waxman SG, Wood JN, Sodium channels: from mechanisms to medicines?, Brain Research Bulletin, 50(5-6), 309-10, 15 Nov 1999

Tanaka, M., Cummins, T. R., Ishikawa, K., Black, J. A., Ibata, Y., Waxman, S. G., Molecular andfunctional remodeling of electrogenic membrane of hypothalamic neurons in response to changes in their input, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 96(3), 1088-1093, 02 Feb 1999

Fjell J, Cummins TR, Fried K, Black JA, Waxman SG, In vivo NGF deprivation reduces SNS expression and TTX-R sodium currents in IB4-negative DRG neurons., Journal of Neurophysiology, 81(2), 803-10, February 1999

Dib-Hajj, S. D., Tyrrell, L., Cummins, T. R., Black, J. A., Wood, P. M., Waxman, S. G., Two tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium channels in human dorsal root ganglion neurons, FEBS Letters, 462, 117-120, 1999

Waxman, S. G., The molecular pathophysiology of pain: abnormal expression of sodium channel genes and its contributions to hyperexcitability of primary sensory neurons, Pain Suppl, 6, S133-40, 08 1999

Waxman, S. G., The molecular basis for electrogenic computation in the brain: you can't step in the same river twice, Molecular Psychiatry, 4(3), 222-228, 05 1999

Dib-Hajj, S. D., Tyrrell, L., Cummins, T. R., Black, J. A., Wood, P. M. Waxman, S. G., Two tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium channels in human dorsal root ganglion neurons, FEBS Letters, 462, 117-120, 1999

Cummins, T. R., DIb-Hajj, S. D., Black, J. A., Akopian, A. N., Wood, J. N., Waxman, S. G., A novel persistent tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium current in SNS-null and wild-type small primary sensory neurons, Journal of Neuroscience, 19(RC43), 1-6, 1999

Waxman, S.G., Dib-Hajj, S., Cummins, T.R., and Black, J.A., Sodium Channels and Pain, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 96, 7635-7639, 1999

Ishikawa K, Tanaka M, Black J.A., Waxman S.G., Changes in Expression of Voltage-gated Potassium Channels in Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons Following Axotomy, Muscle & Nerve, 22, 502-507, 1999

Waxman S.G., The Molecular Pathophysiology of Pain: Abnormal Expression of Sodium Channel Genes and Its Contributions to Hyperexcitability in Primary Sensory Neurons, Pain, 6, S133-S140, 1999

Black J.A., Cummins T.R., Plumpton C, Chen Y.H., Hormuzdiar W, Clare JJ, Waxman S.G., Upregulation of a Silent Sodium Channel After Peripheral, But Not Central, Nerve Injury in DRG Neurons, J. Neurophysiol, 82, 2776-2785, 1999

Dib-Hajj, S.D., Tyrrell L, Escayg A, Wood P.M., Meisler MH, Waxman S.G., Coding Sequence, Genomic Organization and Conserved Chromosomal Localization of Mouse Gene Scn11a Encoding the Sodium Channel NaN, Genomics, 59, 309-318, 1999

Rose CR, Waxman SG, Ransom BR. Effects of glucose deprivation, chemical hypoxia, and simulated ischemia on Na+ homeostasis in rat spinal cord astrocytes., Journal of Neuroscience, 18(10), 3554-62, 15 1998.

Imaizumi T, Kocsis JD, Waxman SG, Resistance to anoxic injury in the dorsal columns of adult rat spinal cord following demyelination., Brain Research, 779(1-2), 292-6, 1 1998.

Black J.A., Dib-Hajj S, Cohen S, Hinson A,W, Waxman S.G., Glial Cells Have Heart: RH1 Na+ Channel MRNA and Protein in Spinal Cord Astrocytes, Glia, 23, 200-208, 1998.

Fern R, Davis P, Waxman SG, Ransom B, Axon Conduction and Survival in CNS White Matter During Energy Deprivation: a Developmental Study, J.Neurophysiol, 79, 95-106, 1998.

Tanaka M, Cummins T.R, Ishikawa K, Dib-Hajj S.D., Black J.A., Waxman S.G., SNS Na+ Channel Expression Increases in Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons in the Carrageenan Inflammatory Pain Model, NeuroReport, 9, 967-972, 1998.

Cummins T.R., Howe J.R., Waxman S.G., Slow Closed-state Inactivation: a Novel Mechanism Underlying Ramp Currents in Cells Expressing the HNE/PN1 Sodium Channel, J. Neurosci, 18, 9606-9619, 1998.

Dib-Hajj SD, Ishikawa K, Cummins TR, Waxman SG, Insertion of a SNS-specific tetrapeptide in S3-S4 linker of D4 accelerates recovery from inactivation of skeletal muscle voltage-gated Na channel mu1 in HEK293 cells., FEBS Letters, 416(1), 11-4, 13 Oct 1997.

Cummins TR, Waxman SG, Downregulation of tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium currents and upregulation of a rapidly repriming tetrodotoxin-sensitive sodium current in small spinal sensory neurons after nerve injury., Journal of Neuroscience, 17(10), 3503-14, 15 1997.


For a more complete list of Dr. Waxman’s publications, please see PubMed




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