The breakthrough was made through a collaboration between neuroscientists and engineers at the Universities of Strathclyde and Dundee
A breakthrough in understanding how brain damage spreads, and how it could potentially be limited, has been made through a collaboration between neuroscientists and engineers at the Universities of Strathclyde and Dundee. They have uncovered a previously unknown mechanism in the brain that allows networks of neurons to protect against the kind of spreading secondary damage seen in cases of strokes and traumatic brain injuries.
Dr Michele Zagnoni, Senior Lecturer in Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the University of Strathclyde, was a partner in the research.
He said, “Using microfluidic technology, we were able to produce in-vitro neuronal networks to investigate spreading toxicity in the brain, which is the cause of brain damage even after an initial trauma. Through this process, we were able to demonstrate how the spread of this toxicity is driven. In doing that we also uncovered a previously unknown, fast acting, neuro-protective signalling mechanism.
“If this network activity could be triggered clinically as soon as possible then major brain damage could be minimised and recovery periods shortened,” said Dr Christopher Connolly, Reader in Neurobiology in Dundee’s School of Medicine.
EH News Bureau
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