Stem cell therapy of stroke

Description of projects available to graduate students:
Umbilical cord matrix is a unique source of pluripotent stem cells that have been found to differentiate into neurons and other cell types in culture. Dr. Xu’s lab is studying the potential therapeutic effects of these stem cells in treating brain injuries after hypoxia and global ischemia. Rotation students will have the opportunity to learn stem cell transplantation, stem cell tracking by MRI, and various other techniques to characterize neuronal protections by the transplanted and endogenous adult stem cells.

Techniques graduate student will learn:
Stem cell culturing, magnetic labeling of stem cells, different stroke models, intracranial microinjection, magnetic resonance imaging, immunohistochemistry, and fluorescence microscopy.