The Cullen Laboratory
Neural Engineering in Neurotrauma

Images

Celluar Imaging

	Regenerating peripheral axons growing through tubular Schwann cells
	Neuronal networks grown on 3-D multi-electrode arrays
	Stereo-image of neurons in 3-D culture
	Neuron with synapses in 3-D co-culture with astrocytes
	Surviving neurons 6 wks post-transplant into rat sciatic nerve with host axonal integration
	Astrocyte mitosis
	Brain slice from the porcine hippocampus for electrophysiology
	Degenerating cortical neurons following blast exposure
	Neuron with synapses
	Neuronal network with synapses
	Neurons & astrocytes in the porcine hippocampus
	Neurons & axons in the porcine hippocampus
	Silver-stained axons with neutral red counter-stain of the rat cerebral cortex
	Small neuronal network
	Stereo-image of 3-D neuronal-astrocytic co-cultures after 2 months in culture
	Synchronized neurons
	A single synapse on a neuronal cell body
	Cross-section of rat sciatic nerve showing myelinated axons
	Electron micrograph of a neuron on a 3-D matrix
	Neurogenesis
	Neurons & astrocytes form tight bundles to span 3-D structures
	Neurons & astrocytes in a 3-D matrix
	Neurons & astrocytes spanning 3-D multi-electrode towers
	Reactive astrocytes in the rat cerebellum following blast
	Neurons within a 3-D matrix
	Surviving transplanted axons guiding host axon regeneration
	Widespread neurite budding

Neurons grown on a conductive polymer micro-fiber

3-D Microscopy

Z-stack of a 3-D neuronal culture

Neuronal network with synapses

Damaged neurons (green) in the rat cortex following blast

Volumetric reconstruction of a 3-D neuronal-astrocytic co-culture

Volumetric reconstruction of a 3-D neuronal-astrocytic co-culture after injury

Cluster of Neurons

Contact Information

D. Kacy Cullen, Ph.D
105E Hayden Hall, 3320 Smith Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104
dkacy@mail.med.upenn.edu

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News and Events

Dr. Cullen and colleagues Dr. John Duda and Dr. John Wolf received a 5-year Merit Review from the Department of Veterans Affairs entitled "Chronic Neurodegenerative and Neurophysiological Sequela of Closed-Head TBI."
Dr. Cullen and Dr. Smith have an article published in Scientific American titled "Bionic Connections" describing their efforts to develop biohybrid neuroprosthetic interfaces (http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=how-artifical-arms-could-connect-nervous-system). In addition, the magazine published a web-based companion article on the use of this neural tissue engineering technology to repair peripheral nerve injuries (http://scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=bionic-limb-researchers-build-new-bridges-nerve-injury).
Dr. Wolf and Laura Struzyna gave nanosymposium presentations at the Society for Neuroscience conference in New Orleans, LA. Dr. Wolf presented "Alterations in Hippocampal Circuitry Post Diffuse Brain Injury in a Swine TBI Model". Laura Struzyna presented "A Stragey for Functional Restoration of Brain Pathways Using Micro-Tissue Engineered Constructs Containing Living Axon Tracts".
Dr. Cullen gave a lecture at the Military Health System Research Symposium (MHSRS) in Ft. Lauderdale, FL detailing his recent work in "Acute Biophysical Responses and Neurophysiological Sequelae following Closed-Head Traumatic Brain Injury in Swine".
Commentary by Dr. Cullen was featured in a blog post about brain-based neural electrical interface systems: innovation-how-a-paralyzed-peson-uses-thoughts-to-control-a-robotic-arm
Dr. Cullen was interviewed for a blog post regarding the effects of traumatic brain injury on NFL athletes: http://physicsbuzz.physicscentral.com/2012/05/physics-of-hit-football-concussions.html
The Cullen Lab was awarded a grant from Axonia Medical, Inc. to advance novel neural tissue engineering technology to improve neuroregeneration following severe peripheral nerve injury.
A new company, Cerebid Technologies, has been formed by Dr. Cullen along with Ray Krauss, Douglas Smith and Shu Yang, to focus on translating their unique blast-sensitive photonic nanocrystals. These photonic nanocrystals, which change color following exposure to blast, are being developed as a "Blast Badge" to measure an individual soldiers blast exposure levels relative to thresholds for blast-induced traumatic brain injury, the "signature injury" in warfighters in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Dr. Cullen was invited to give a research talk at the Neuroprotection Research Seminar Series through the Shock, Trauma and Anesthesiology Research Center (STAR-ORC) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. He presented "Closed-Head Blast vs. Inertial TBI: Cellular Biophysical Responses and Neurophysiological Sequela".
Dr. Cullen was an Invited Speaker at the 2nd World Congress on Biotechnology in Philadelphia, PA. He presented "Neural Tissue Engineering Strategies for Cell Replacement and Axon Regeneration".

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