Paul R. Sanberg

Paul R. Sanberg is an American scientist and inventor. His early work focused on the causes of brain cell death. His recent research has been on methods of repairing damaged brain tissue, and, in tandem with other scientists, demonstrating that stem cells derived from the blood of bone marrow and umbilical cords can be converted to neural cells.[1]

Sanberg is currently the Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation at the University of South Florida where he is also a Professor of medicine, |molecular pharmacology, and physiology.[2]

Biography

Sanberg attended Staples High School, in Staples, Minnesota, and received his Bachelor of Science (in Psychology and Biology) from York University, in Toronto, Ontario (Canada) in 1976. He then received a Master of Science (Neurological Sciences) from the The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C. (Canada); he received his Ph.D, in 1961 from the Australian National University, which subsequently awarded him an Sc.D in 199. He undertook a Post-Doctoral Fellowship (Behavioral Biology and Neuroscience) at The Australian National Universityin 1981, followed by a Post-Doctoral Fellowship (Neuroscience) at Johns Hopkins Medical School, Baltimore, Maryland (USA) from 1981–1983.[3][4]

He taught at Ohio University, the University of Cincinnati, and Brown University prior to becoming the Associate Dean in Morsani College of Medicine at the University of South Florida.[5] He was promoted at USF, eventually becoming the Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation.[6]

Scientific career

Sanberg's research has focused on the functions of the human brain, the causes of its deterioration, and treatments for mental disorders. He is a spokesperson for breakthrough treatments in the treatment of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Tourette syndrome, and trauma.[7][8]

Nicotine research

In 2000, Sanberg and fellow scientist Archie Sliver conducted a study of the effects of nicotine patches on Tourette's victims. The study involved seventy young people with Tourette's. Those who were administered the nicotine patch along with Haldol showed significantly increased muscle control and ability to desist from verbal outbursts. The study suggests that nicotine could also be used to treat the symptoms of mental disorders including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.[9]

Stem cell research

In 2001, Sanberg led a study that uncovered new therapeutic uses for umbilical cord cells. The study was conducted by injecting stem cells into rats that had undergone strokes. Sanberg's team found that the injected rats recovered fifty percent more brain function than did the control group.[10] This discovery was found to have applications to the treatment of stroke. Sanberg explained to media outlets that the umbilical cells could be injected directly into the blood stream where they would be attracted to the stroke-damaged brain.[11] Media coverage noted that the study used only tissue from umbilical cords, most of which is discarded as waste, meaning the study was uncomplicated by the ethical questions surrounding other forms of stem cell research.[12]

Honors

Sanberg is a fellow of the New York Academy of Sciences, the American Association for the Advancement of Science,the American Psychological Association, the Royal Society of Chemistry. the Royal Society of Medicine, the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health. the International Behavioral Neuroscience Society, the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, and the American Psychological Society. He was the founding President of the National Academy of Inventors, the Cell Transplant Society, the American Society for Neural Transplantation and Repair, and the International Behavioral Neuroscience Society,[3]

References

  1. Peterson, Lindsay (28 August 2009). "At USF, there's a place for inventors". Tampa Tribune. EBSCO. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  2. "Paul R. Sanberg, PHD". University of South Florida. Archived from the original on May 7, 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  3. 1 2 CV at University of South Florida
  4. official faculty page at University of South Florida
  5. Gunther, Judith Anne (May 1993). "Treating disease without drugs". Popular Science. 242 (5): 78–79. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  6. "Senior Vice President". Usf.edu. University of South Florida. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  7. Nambia, Smitha (1 September 2014). "Bad Memories Can be Changed into Good Ones, Say Scientists". International Business Times. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  8. Thompson, Dennis (27 August 2014). "Scientists 'Rewrite' Bad Memories in Mice". Health Day. ScoutNews, LLC. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  9. Hayden, Thomas. 2000. "A Little Nicotine Could Be Good for You." Newsweek 135, no. 10: 53. MAS Ultra - School Edition, EBSCOhost (accessed September 4, 2014).
  10. "Umbilical cord hope for stroke victims." Australian, Feb. 21, 2001. TheNewspaper Source, EBSCOhost (accessed September 4, 2014).
  11. Leslie, Papp. n.d. "Umbilical cord cells could be brain-savers." Toronto Star (Canada), n.d. Newspaper Source, EBSCOhost (accessed September 4, 2014).
  12. "Victims of stroke could be helped by babies." Times, The (United Kingdom), Feb. 2, 2001. Newspaper Source, EBSCOhost (accessed September 4, 2014).

External links

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