Chronic stress worsens stroke outcomes. We are analyzing the mechanisms underlying exacerbated stress-primedneuroinflammationafter stroke in rats with chronic social defeat stress, and the neuroprotective mechanisms of progesterone treatment in this model.
Progesterone in Stroke with Comorbid Vitamin D Deficiency
VDH deficiency can reduce the neuroprotective effects of progesterone treatment after stroke and TBI. We are analyzing the effects of VDH deficiency and VDH supplementation in combination with progesterone treatment in clinically relevant animal models of brain injury.
Progesterone in Stroke with Diabetes as a Co-morbid Condition
Stroke and diabetes are both systemic diseases with overlapping effects on vascularization and inflammation. We are analyzing the mechanisms and outcomes of progesterone treatment in diabetic stroke and will extend this work into TBI models
Progesterone for Repetitive "Mild" Traumatic Brain Injury
Dr. Sayeed in collaboration with colleagues in Pediatrics and Bioengineering is working to identify biomarkers that correlate with the extent of brain trauma caused by repetitive concussive injuries.
With the Emory Institute for Drug Discovery and the ECAS Department of Chemistry, we are developing an analog of progesterone which is water-soluble, shelf-stable, and has other properties that make is much easier to store and administer, especially in emergency conditions, than native progesterone.
High-Dose Progesterone in the Treatment of Glioblastoma Multiforme
We have shown that high-dose progesterone slows tumor growth and extends the survival of tumor-bearing mice. We are now analyzing mechanisms of these and other beneficial effects of progesterone treatment of GBM in vitro and in vivo. With Dr. Hui-Kuo Shu in Radiation Oncology, we have applied to the Coulter Foundation to support dose-response and toxicity studies to inform a Phase I clinical trial of progesterone as an adjunct therapy for fractionated radiation in GBM patients.
Progesterone as a Treatment for Neonatal Anesthesia-Induced Neuroinflammation
In collaboration with colleagues at Yerkes and with URC support, we are testing prophylactic progesterone to reduce neuroinflammation in a rodent model of repeated neonatal sevoflurane exposure.
