The Indiana Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group (ISCBIRG) at Indiana University School of Medicine is an integrated component of Stark Neurosciences Research Institute. The group, led by Xiao-Ming Xu, PhD, is comprised of a crital mass of key principal investigators who study molecular mechanisms underlying spinal cord injury (SCI) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) and develop novel repair strategies to promote neural reorganization and functional recovery in experimental models of these injuries. The long-term goal of these studies is to translate promising treatments from animal models to humans. Additionally, several faculty conduct behavioral, pharmacological and neuroimaging research in human pediatric, adolescent and adult TBI.
Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research
Faculty Investigators
News and Updates
Congratulations to Season Johnson, postdoc in the Brutkiewicz lab, for being the recipient of an Indiana CTSI 2021 Annual Meeting Poster Presentation Award!
Congratulations to Dr. Kunal Gupta on receiving the IU CTSI Program Development Team pilot funding award of $12,445!
Dr. Kunal Gupta’s new publication: Commentary: Bilateral nervus intermedius sectioning for geniculate neuralgia: case report and operative video. Operative Neurosurgery 2021.
Congratulations to Dr. Kunal Gupta on receiving the IU CTSI Program Development Team pilot funding award of $12,445!
Dr. Kunal Gupta’s new publication: Commentary: Bilateral nervus intermedius sectioning for geniculate neuralgia: case report and operative video. Operative Neurosurgery 2021.
Neurosurgery Publication
Kunal Gupta, MD, PhD and Amol Yadav, PhD had a paper accepted in the journal Neurosurgery: "Globus pallidus interna and ventral intermediate nucleus of the thalamus deep brain stimulation for adductor laryngeal dystonia: case report of blinded analyses of objective voice outcomes in two patients.” Laryngeal dystonia (also known as spasmodic dysphonia) is a group of debilitating voice disorders for which there are currently no persistently effective long-term treatments. Patients with this group of disorders experienced a range of troublesome vocal symptoms, including voice breaks, breathiness and tremor. In a multi-disciplinary collaborative study involving Indiana University School of Medicine Neurological Surgery, Neurology, Otolaryngology and ISCBIRG investigators, two patients were implanted with deep brain stimulation electrodes, stimulating structures deep in the brain. Advanced vocal analyses demonstrated that different components of voice disruption can be differentially targeted with deep brain stimulation of either the thalamus or the pallidum. These key findings represent the first steps in using a personalized medicine approach to treating patients with these debilitating vocal symptoms. The collaborative research team is building on these findings with a larger clinical trial. Patients, potential collaborators and interested scientists are welcome to contact the clinical deep brain stimulation service in the departments of neurosurgery and neurology to learn more about deep brain stimulation and potential trial enrollment.
IU researchers pioneering noninvasive technique for neurological conditions
Indiana University School of Medicine researchers are developing a new, noninvasive brain stimulation technique to treat neurological disorders, including pain, traumatic brain injury (TBI), epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and more.
Christina Griffiths | Jul 01, 2021
Research Updates
IU School of Medicine researcher develops new technique that may restore sensory loss after injury, stroke
Patients who suffer from loss of sensory function, such as touch and proprioception, caused by neurological injury may soon be treated with spinal cord stimulation to restore these critical functions.
Glenda Shaw | Jun 10, 2021
IU School of Medicine researchers discover new potential for functional recovery after spinal cord injury
Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine have successfully reprogrammed a glial cell type in the central nervous system into new neurons to promote recovery after spinal cord injury—revealing an untapped potential to leverage the cell for regenerative medicine.
IU School of Medicine | Mar 05, 2021