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Jason Sheehan
Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery, Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering
B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, 1992
M.S., Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, 1992
Ph.D., Biological Physics, University of Virginia, 1997
M.D., University of Virginia, 1998
Dept. of Neurosurgery
PO Box 800212
Charlottesville VA 22908
434-924-8129
jps2f@Virginia.edu
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Research Interests |
Epilepsy and Neuronal Regeneration Research Strategies
My laboratory is focused on two major research areas. The first involves the study of the underlying mechanisms by which stereotactic radiosurgery ameliorates seizures. A multicenter NIH study using Gamma Knife surgery has demonstrated the efficacy of subnecrotic doses of radiation to the amygdala and hippocampal structures of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. Moreover, research completed at the University of Virginia using a chronic temporal lobe epilepsy animal model has shown a similarly positive result. This animal model has demonstrated changes in hippocampal neuronal circuitry that is likely the cause of the improvement in epilepsy. The Gamma Knife induced neuromodulation is the subject of intense research by our lab in conjunction with Dr. Kevin Lee.
The other area of active research is the study of axonal guidance cues in a human neuronal model. Human neurons from epilepsy patients and a brain tumor cell line are being investigated. The guidance cues (e.g. Nogo) and intracellular calcium signaling that facilitate or inhibit axonal propagation are targets of interest in this in vitro research.
UVA Today article on collaborative research with the Price lab.
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