Stroke Research at WVU: Hope for the Future WVU MEDICINE STROKE CONFERENCE BRIDGEPORT, WV NOVEMBER 20, 2015 JAMES W. SIMPKINS, PH.D. THE HIGHLAND CHAIR OF STROKE/NEUROLOGY DEPARTMENT OF NEUROLOGY PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF PHYSIOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY DIRECTOR CENTER FOR BASIC & TRANSLATIONAL STROKE RESEARCH

Transformative Effects of the WVU Stroke CoBRE Since September 9, 2014, the date of NIGMS funding of the WVU Stroke CoBRE  The 7 participants have published 37 papers.  The Stroke CoBRE supported research leading to 4 funded grants and 4 grant applications.  Funded = DoD, K99/R00, SDG (AHA), and a minority supplement  Submitted = 2 F32 applications, 1 F31 application, 1 R01 application  We anticipate 5 new R01 applications by February,  WVU Stroke CoBRE Cores have a large number of users.  Experimental Stroke Core = 25 users  Mitochondrial Functional Assessment Core = 9 users + 4 in the cue  Rodent Behavior Core = 19 users

Scientific Areas of the WVU Stroke CoBRE Junior Investigators  Sophie Ren has discovered that a mitochondrial crisis is responsible for poor stroke outcome.  Paul Chantler has evidence that metabolic syndrome interferes with cerebrovascular function and brain angiogenesis, and is determining their role in poor stroke outcome.  Taura Barr has discovered a set of cellular and genetic biomarkers that predict death and worse outcome in stroke patents.  Sergiy Yakovenko is developing neuroprosthetic interventions that couple brain neuronal activity after stroke to improve limb movement.  Valeriya Gritsenko is discovering ways to link movement deficits to the pattern of changes in brain activity so as to individualize rehabilitation.  Stephanie Frisbee has discovered an association between exposure to perfluoroalkyls and stroke risk, occurrence and severity.

Other WV-Specific Research Projects  Role of MicroRNAs in Stroke outcome  Effects of “Fracking” chemicals on stroke occurrence and severity.  Effects of Infection on stroke severity

Lewis, Sarkar et al., Unpublished Observations, MicroRNAs and Stroke

NIHSS: 6 within 6 hr; 30 at 24hr

Effects of Fracking Chemicals on Mitochondrial Function and Stroke BTEX: Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylene

(BTEX input is 81 ppb, BTEX output is 1.7 ppm) Rellick and Simpkins, Unpublished Observations, 2015.

Effect of TNFα on mitochondrial respiration in HT-22 cells D N Doll, S L Rellick, T L Barr, X Ren and JW Simpkins, J Neurochemistry 132: , 2015.

Effects of a bacterial mimic on infract area in C57 BL/6 mice D N Doll, H Hu, J Sun, S E. Lewis, S L. Rellick, J W Simpkins Xuefang Ren, Stroke 46: , 2015.

Thank You Questions