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Current Medical Student Summer Research Fellows

·	Current Medical Student Research Fellows

Andrew Kahlen Conner Institution: Indiana University Research Proposal: "In two recent studies, specification of rapidly elongating hippocampal axonal processes versus more slowly growing dendritic processes was shown to be regulated by Glycogen Synthase Kinase - 3ß. Spatially localized inactivation of this enzyme using P13K in single immature neurite was necessary for future axon specification and maintenance, however global inactivation of GSK - 3ß led to the formation of multiple axons. These results have also been demonstrated in cortical neurons, which suggests a potential strategy for promoting axonal regeneration after neural injury in the spinal cord. To analyze this possibility dorsal hemisection of rat spinal cords will be performed as well as administration of the pharmacological inhibitor and/or the DMSO vehicle. Purified Schwann Cells will also be added to the lesion. The survival of grafted Schwann cells and the presence of axons within the lesion cavity will also be observed and used as potential supporting evidence for CST axon regeneration."