In this episode of A Moment with Dalton, we talk with Nagi Ayad, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery and The Miami Project, Co-Director, University of Miami Brain Tumor Initiative. Dr. Ayad and his team are identifying therapeutic combinations to treat brain tumors or repair spinal cord injury (SCI). He talks with Dr. Dietrich about how his lab is working on basic science and translating that research into clinical application. Dr. Nagi Ayad is looking at cell cycle transition in the developing brain and central nervous system (CNS) to trying to understand how neuronal progenitors become neurons, and if there are clues there to help eliminate tumors and help repair the CNS. He also discusses using high throughput techniques to identify molecules to affect different pathways during cell division that were successful in tumor research that are now showing promise in SCI. Watch the entire interview below.
Dr. Nagi Ayad’s research interests are identifying therapeutic combinations in brain cancer and spinal cord injury. They are using cerebellar granule cell progenitors (GCPS) to model cell cycle exit in the nervous system. Our time series models of GCP cell cycle exit have identified targets in medulloblastoma and neurite outgrowth. His lab is utilizing The Cancer Genome Atlas data and information from the Library of Integrated Cell Signatures consortium to identify therapeutic combinations in glioblastoma. In collaboration with laboratories at The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis Dr. Nagi Ayad and team are determining whether epigenetic enzymes play a role in inflammation after spinal cord injury