From time to time, we'll profile a Department of Neurology lab and the important work it's doing in the field. Today we're highlighting the work of Dr. Tom Carmichael and his team...

Dr. S. Thomas Carmichael, MD, PhD
Position: Neurology Department Chair; Professor

Program: Neurorehabilitation
Graduate School: Washington University School of Medicine
Postdoc: Washington University School of Medicine

What do you research and what are some of the projects that your lab is currently working on?

My lab studies the mechanisms of brain repair. We are interested in how to identify new treatments that promote recovery in neurological diseases, such as stroke and dementia. The brain does have a limited ability to repair: it can form new connections, stimulate new blood vessels and promote re-engage with brain support cells to provide supporting structure. However, these normal mechanisms of brain repair are limited, and people with neurological diseases do not fully recovery. We aim to develop new drugs and new stem cell therapies to promote recovery.

Could you tell me about your team?

The lab has a team of post-doctoral research fellows, clinical fellows, graduate students and technicians. We work together in an integrated team to answer scientific questions together, and to share our experiences in our studies so that we can solve problems as a group.

Where do you see the trajectory of your research going?

Up. This field of brain repair is really the field of Regenerative Medicine in the brain. This is an emerging field, as we identify how to repair the brain and develop new therapies.