2023 - 2024 Speakers 

Zin Khaing, PhD

Institution: University of Washington, Seattle

Title of Talk: "Developing novel imaging biomarkers for detecting injury severity and recovery after traumatic spinal cord injury - animal models to translation"

Rachel Rowe, PhD

Institution: University of Colorado, Boulder

Title of Talk: "Biological sex, injury model, and injury severity as factors that alter sleep after preclinical traumatic brain injury."

Megan Detloff, PhD

Institution: Drexel University

Title of Talk: "Modulating the macrophage to alter nociception and pain after spinal cord injury."

Kyle Bamubauer, PhD

Institution: University of Kansas Medical Center

Title of Talk: "Understanding a central to peripheral (and back) circuit that drives below-level pain following spinal cord injury."

Neil Harris, PhD

Institution: University of California, Los Angeles 

Title of Talk: "The MRI magnet just quenched! Now what?"

Joseph Ojo, PhD

Institution: Roskamp Insititute 

Title of Talk: "Delineating the contribution of glial cell pathobiology in the chronic sequelae of repetitive mild TBI." 

Min Zhou, PhD.

Institution: Ohio State University

Title of Talk: "Astrocyte Syncytium - a biopower grid in the brain."

2022-2023 Speakers

Andrei Krassioukov, MD, PhD

Institution: University of British Columbia

Title of Talk: “Till Death Do Us Part: An Optimistic View on Reality of Autonomic Dysfunction Following Spinal Cord Injury”

Dr. John "Kip" Kramer

Institution: University of British Columbia

Title of Talk: “New-Old Opportunities for Translation in Acute Spinal Cord Injury: Optimizing Pharmacological Management and Surveillance to Enhance Motor Recovery”

Dr. Franklin D. West

Institution: University of Georgia 

Title of the Talk: “Neuroprotective and Regenerative Stem Cell Therapies in a Pig Stroke and TBI Model”

Ann M. Parr, MD, PhD

Institution: University of Minnesota

Title of Talk: “Building a New Spinal Cord after Injury”

Dr. Rodney Ritzel

Institution: University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Title of Talk:  “Bi-directional Neuroimmune Dysfunction after Experimental TBI”

Dr. Kevin K. Wang

Institution: University of Florida

Title of Talk: “Translational Biomarkers for Traumatic Brain Injury: From Animal Studies to Human and Back”

Michael Whalen, MD

Institution: Massachusetts General Hospital

Title of Talk: “Elucidating Mechanisms of Disease in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Using Mouse Models”

2021-2022 Speakers

Dr. Cédric G. Geoffroy

Institution: Texas A&M University

Title of Talk: “Impact of Spinal Cord Injury on Cardiometabolic and Bowel Functions”

Dr. Sandra M. Garraway

Institution: Emory University 

Title of Talk: “Exploring Multiple Mechanisms Underlying Pain After Spinal Cord Injury”

Dr. Justin E. Karr

Institution: University of Kentucky 

Title of Talk: “Understanding Outcome Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: New Approaches and Underrepresented Populations”

Dr. Michael Kyweriga

Institution: Novoron Bioscience, Neuroregenerative Therapeutics

Title of Talk: “Development of a chronic tethered intrathecal drug delivery system in rats”

Dr. Hülya Bayir

Institution: University of Pittsburgh 

Title of Talk: “Phospholipid Signaling in the Pathogenesis of Traumatic Brain Injury”

Hongyan "Jenny" Zou, PhD, MD

Institution: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Title of Talk:  “Dissecting Neuronal Intrinsic and Extrinsic Hurdles of Axon Regeneration”

2020-2021 Speakers

Dr. John R. Lukens

Institution: University of Virginia 

Title of Talk: “Causes and Consequences of Defective Brain Lymphatic Drainage in Head Trauma”

Dr. Regina C. Armstrong

Institution: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Title of Talk: “Low Dose 4-Aminopyridine Therapy Mitigates Axon Damage and Demyelination During the Acute Phase After Experimental Traumatic Brain Injury”

Dr. Michael D. Sunshine

Institution: University of Florida (at time of talk) / University of Kentucky (current institution) 

Title of Talk: “Using spinal stimulation to restore motor function following spinal cord injury and opioid overdose”

Dr. Aaron Phillips

Institution: University of Calgary 

Title of Talk: “A Hemotherapy for Spinal Cord Injury”