Michael G Fehlings , FRCSC, MD, PhD

Neuroprotection of the injured spinal cord
Regenerative medicine for spinal cord injury using stem cell and tissue engineering approaches
Mechanisms of glial-axonal signalling using electrophysiological and imaging approaches.

Our laboratory integrates molecular, imaging, electrophysiological and neurobehavioural approaches to examine the pathophysiology and treatment of central nervous system injury, using spinal cord injury as a model system. Current studies in SCI are focused on understanding the mechanisms of neuronal and glial apoptosis after SCI, axonal-glial signaling, development of novel neuroprotective strategies and the use of stem cell transplantation strategies to repair the spinal cord.

Our laboratory plays a leading role in SCI-NET (Spinal Cord Injury New Emerging Team)--a unique, interdisciplinary team of clinicians and scientists with expertise in micro-neurosurgery and neurotrauma (Fehlings and Tator, UHN), stem cell and growth factor biology (van der Kooy and Morshead, U of T), tissue engineering and nanotechnology (Shoichet, U of T) and magnetic resolution imaging (Stanisz, Sunnybrook).

SCI-NET is examining three integrated strategies to treat SCI:

Application of cell-adhesive tubular constructs and neural stem cells for spinal cord repair and regeneration;
Optimization of cell survival after SCI with novel bio-engineered drug delivery systems;
Enhancement of endogenous populations of neural stem cells for spinal cord repair and regeneration.

The SCI-NET team is a key part of the regenerative medicine program at the McLaughlin Center for Molecular Medicine which provides an excellent, collaborative research environment.

Additional Appointments

Institute of Medical Science

McLaughlin Center in Molecular Medicine

McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine

University of Toronto