preventing this brain injury has been slow, Back says, because of the lack of animal models to test therapies for the complex forms of brain injury that occur in human survivors of premature birth. Recently, Back's team developed the first animal model that reproduces the major forms of brain damage that occur in premature infants. This model has substantially altered the way leaders in this field believe damage occurs to the developing white matter of the brain.

"We previously believed that the developing brain fails to make normal myelin, because the oligo-cells that make the myelin were completely killed. Hence, it was thought that the children with CP sustain permanent abnormalities in movement and intellect," Back explained. "However, our recent studies suggest that this view may not be correct."

Back and Lawrence Sherman, Ph.D., an associate scientist in the OHSU Oregon National Primate Research Center, have discovered that after adult white matter damage, numerous oligo-cells survive, but fail to mature to make myelin. This appears related to a molecule called hyaluronic acid (HA) that builds up in the damaged white matter and prevents the normal production of myelin.

"The oligo-cells are blocked at a critical period in their cell development before they are able to make myelin. The fact that these cells appear normal and are present in large numbers in the regions of brain damage raises the possibility that we might develop therapies that allow these oligo-cells to mature and make the myelin needed to restore greater function to the damaged brain," Back said.

Back is the second OHSU researcher to receive this highly coveted award. In 2002 Edward Neuwelt, M.D., professor of neurosurgery and neurology, OHSU School of Medicine, Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and director of the OHSU Blood Brain Barrier Program, received a Javits Award for his contributions to th
'"/>

Contact: Tamara Hargens-Bradley
hargenst@ohsu.edu
503-494-8231
Oregon Health & Science University
13-Aug-2007

Page: 1 2 3 4
Related biology news :

1. NIH selects Childrens Hospital as Center of Excellence to train future generations of scientists
2. Childrens Hospital Oakland, Calif.s new iron regulation discovery
3. Childrens Hospital researcher leads multipronged attack on infant leukemia
4. Childrens Hospital Oaklands new maternal diet study
5. Childrens Hospital and Research Center-Oakland presents a new maternal diet study
6. Childrens Hospital Boston presents at the 2006 American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference
7. Genetic research at Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh reinforces theory of evolution
8. Childrens Hospital Boston presents at the 2006 Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting
9. UCLA engineering and Mattel Childrens Hospital collaborate to develop childrens heart valve
10. Childrens Hospital Oakland scientist awarded seat on national scientific review board
11. Research center for National Childrens Study to be based in Queens