Enhanced EGF Receptor Signaling Prevents White Matter Injury in Perinatal Hypoxia

描述(由申请者提供)：这个有指导的临床科学家研究职业发展奖将为儿童神经学教员在多学科翻译神经科学研究中作为独立研究员的学术生涯做准备，重点是脑白质损伤和早产儿脑损伤后的康复。这项研究将在国家儿童医学中心神经科学中心进行。弥漫性脑室周围白质损伤(DWMI)是早产儿脑损伤的一种主要形式，会导致长期的认知、感觉-运动和行为缺陷。目前还没有促进脑白质恢复的特定靶向疗法。这项建议集中在大脑内源性祖细胞上发现的表皮生长因子受体(EGFR)，以及通过特定的靶向治疗增强其信号是否促进白质少突胶质细胞的恢复。Scafidi博士是一名儿童神经学家，主要专注于新生儿神经学以及这些儿童的长期护理和管理。在Scafidi博士作为儿童神经科医生接受培训期间，他在发育神经生物学、临床神经生理学和神经成像领域获得了经验。然而，Scafidi博士需要在基础神经科学技术方面进行额外的培训，以调查增强内源性EGFR信号的特定靶向疗法是否通过涉及细胞、分子、代谢和生理学技术以及行为研究的多学科方法促进康复。Scafidi博士正在使用一种新的小鼠慢性围产期缺氧模型，这种模型会导致类似于人类早产儿的神经病理和神经行为变化。这项研究的目的是解决这样一个假设，即增强的EGFR信号在脑损伤后发育的关键时期刺激EGFR+祖细胞的内源性反应，并促进缺氧后细胞、功能和行为的恢复。在目标1中，Scafidi博士将确定EGF在慢性围产期缺氧后少突胶质细胞再生和发育髓鞘形成中的作用。在目标2中，他将确定慢性围产期缺氧对轴突完整性造成的功能缺陷，以及在少突胶质细胞中过度表达EGFR或使用EGFR配体治疗是否促进功能恢复。最后，在第三个目标中，Scafidi博士将定义慢性围产期缺氧导致的长期行为缺陷，并确定增强的EGFR信号是否可以阻止这些缺陷。这项为期5年的计划将包括由一支优秀的导师和顾问团队进行的教学和研究培训。斯卡菲迪博士75%的时间将用于研究，其余时间用于与新生儿神经学和早产儿长期护理相关的临床活动。在他的主要导师的指导下的神经科学研究中心是候选人在多学科和协作环境中发展成为独立研究人员的理想环境。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award will prepare a child neurology faculty member for an academic career as an independent investigator in multidisciplinary translational neuroscience research with a focus on white matter injury and recovery after premature brain injury. This research will be conducted in the Center for Neuroscience at Children's National Medical Center. Diffuse periventricular white matter injury (DWMI) is a major form of brain injury in children born very premature and results in long-term cognitive, sensori-motor and behavioral deficiencies. There are currently no specific targeted therapies that promote white matter recovery. This proposal focuses on the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors (EGFR) found on endogenous progenitor cells in the brain and whether enhancing their signaling with specific targeted therapies promote recovery of white matter oligodendrocytes. Dr Scafidi is a child neurologist with a primary focus on neonatal neurology and the long-term care and management of these children. During Dr Scafidi's training as a child neurologist, he gained experience in the fields of developmental neurobiology, clinical neurophysiology and neuroimaging. However, Dr Scafidi needs additional training in basic neuroscience techniques to investigate whether specific targeted therapies that enhance endogenous EGFR signaling promotes recovery using a multidisciplinary approach that involves cellular, molecular, metabolic and physiology techniques as well as behavioral studies. Dr Scafidi is using a novel mouse model of chronic perinatal hypoxia that results in neuropathological and neurobehavioral changes similar to those found in human very preterm infants. The proposed aims of this study will address the overall hypothesis that enhanced EGFR signaling stimulates the endogenous response of EGFR+ progenitor cells during a critical period in brain development after injury and promotes cellular, functional and behavioral recovery after hypoxia. In aim 1, Dr Scafidi will determine the role of EGF on oligodendrocyte regeneration and developmental myelination after chronic perinatal hypoxia. In Aim 2, he will determine the functional deficits caused by chronic perinatal hypoxia on axon integrity and whether over-expression of EGFR in oligodendrocytes or treatment with EGFR ligand promotes functional recovery. Finally, in the third aim Dr Scafidi will define the long-term behavioral deficits induced by chronic perinatal hypoxia and determine whether enhanced EGFR signaling prevents these deficits. This 5-year program will include didactic and research training from an excellent team of mentors and advisors. 75% of Dr Scafidi's time will be devoted to research, with the remaining time devoted to the clinical activities related to neonatal neurology and long-term care of those born prematurely. The Center for Neuroscience Research under the direction of his primary mentor is the ideal setting for a candidate to develop into an independent investigator in a multidisciplinary and collaborative environment.