Dr. Khan Mushfiquddin
Department of Pediatrics
Medical University of South Carolina, SC
My major research interest is to investigate the neuropharmacology of CNS trauma with focus on stroke (cerebral ischemia and reperfusion; IR), traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord contusion injury (SCI) and lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). The investigations have targeted both neuroprotection and neurorestoration for optimal functional recovery following CNS trauma. My bioorganic background (Ph.D.) and neuropharmacology training (Postdoc) prepared me to study design, prepare and administer drugs to animal models of CNS trauma and monitor their efficacy. These studies helped me to develop expertise in animal models (rat and mouse) of acute/chronic brain injury (IR, TBI SCI and LSS), evaluation of neurobehavioral and neurological functions, measurements of physiologic parameters as well as cerebral blood flow. To understand the neurorestoration mechanisms, I devoted my efforts to investigating the role of proteases, lipases and bioactive lipid mediators in neuronal injury and the significance of angiogenesis and neurogenesis in brain repair mechanisms. To support the animal studies, neuronal and glial cell culture models and pharmacological agents are used to elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms. I remained focused on neurovascular protection, neurorepair process and cross talk between neurons and glial cells, as evident from my peer reviewed high impact more than 85 publications and a number grant awards.
My major research interest is to investigate the neuropharmacology of CNS trauma with focus on stroke (cerebral ischemia and reperfusion; IR), traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord contusion injury (SCI) and lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS).