Bio
Dr. Blesch received his Ph.D. in Genetics and Neurology and subsequently continued his education in neuroscience at the University of California, San Diego(UCSD). At UCSD, his work was focused on the role of neurotrophic factors in axonal regeneration and Alzheimer’s disease and gene therapy in the nervous system leading to a faculty position as Associate Professor. Before joining Indiana University in his current position, he also spent several years at the Spinal Cord Injury Center at Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany to build a program in basic and translational science in spinal cord injury research.
His research has been funded by NIH/NINDS, VA, International Spinal Research Trust, Wings for Life, German Research Foundation, EU, International Foundation for Research in Paraplegia, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, Adelson Program in Neural Repair, Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, Indiana Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Fund and Morton Cure Paralysis Fund.
Dr. Blesch has served as grant reviewer for numerous federal agencies and national and international foundations in the US, Canada, Australia, UK, Ireland, Spain, Austria, Germany and European Union.
Dr. Blesch is a dedicated and effective teacher and mentor, providing both formal coursework and individual instruction. He serves as a thesis and research advisor to master's and doctoral students and as faculty mentor to undergraduate students.
Education:
1986-1992 Undergraduate student, University of Würzburg, Germany, Department of Biology (Major: Genetics; Minors: Microbiology, Biochemistry, Cell and Developmental Biology)
1992-1995 Graduate student, Department of Neurology, University of Würzburg, Germany, Laboratory of Ulrich Bogdahn, M.D. Title of thesis: "Cloning and expression of a novel melanoma inhibiting protein".
Positions and Employment:
1995-1998 Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, Laboratory of Mark Tuszynski, M.D., Ph.D.
1998-2002 Assistant Project Scientist, Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego (UCSD)
2002- 2006 Assistant Professor of Neurosciences, Department of Neurosciences, UCSD
2006-2014 Associate Professor of Neurosciences, Department of Neurosciences, UCSD
2010-2015 Head, Laboratory for Neuroregeneration, Spinal Cord Injury Center, Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany
2014-2015 Professor, Spinal Cord Injury Center, Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany
2015- Professor of Neurological Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine
2015- Primary Investigator, IU Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, IUSOM
2015- Primary Investigator, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, IUSOM
Titles & Appointments
- Adjunct Professor of Neurology
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Education
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Research