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Profile

Patricia Ward PhD

  • Department of Cell Biology
    Assistant Professor
  • jill.ward@emory.edu
  • Dr. Ward's Lab Website
  • Research Gate
  • Emory University School of Medicine
    Cell Biology
    615 Michael St., 4th Floor Whitehead Building
Head shot of Patricia Ward

Academic Appointment

  • Assistant Professor, Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine

Education

Degrees

  • PhD, Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology from University of Louisville
  • MS, Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology from University of Louisville
  • BS, Animal Science from Auburn University

Research

Focus

  • Axon Regeneration

    My research is focused on axon regeneration following injury and how activity-based therapies, such as exercise or neuronal activity induced by electrical or optical methods, enhance this regeneration. I use transgenic mouse models and electrophysiological and anatomical approaches to measure functional recovery and axon regeneration, respectively. Understanding the mechanisms responsible for successful axon regeneration will lead to the translation of therapies for humans with spinal cord and peripheral nerve injuries.

Publications

  • Regenerative failure of sympathetic axons contributes to deficits in functional recovery after nerve injury.
    Neurobiol Dis Volume: 209 Page(s): 106893
    06/01/2025 Authors: Tian T; Kim D; Yu K; Hartzell HC; Ward PJ
  • Conditioning electrical stimulation fails to enhance sympathetic axon regeneration.
    bioRxiv
    01/20/2025 Authors: Tian T; Patel K; Kim D; SiMa H; Harris AR; Owyoung JN; Ward PJ
  • Regenerative failure of sympathetic axons contributes to deficits in functional recovery after nerve injury.

    01/16/2025 Authors: Tian T; Kim D; Yu K; Hartzell HC; Ward PJ
  • Surgical Lumbar Sympathectomy in Mice.
    J Vis Exp
    07/05/2024 Authors: Tian T; Ward PJ
  • A Perspective on Electrical Stimulation and Sympathetic Regeneration in Peripheral Nerve Injuries.
    Neurotrauma Rep Volume: 5 Page(s): 172 - 180
    01/01/2024 Authors: Tian T; Moore AM; Ghareeb PA; Boulis NM; Ward PJ
  • Application of Electrical Stimulation to Enhance Axon Regeneration Following Peripheral Nerve Injury.
    Bio Protoc Volume: 13 Page(s): e4833
    10/05/2023 Authors: Wariyar SS; Ward PJ
  • Members of the CUGBP Elav-like family of RNA-binding proteins are expressed in distinct populations of primary sensory neurons.
    J Comp Neurol Volume: 531 Page(s): 1425 - 1442
    10/01/2023 Authors: Grlickova-Duzevik E; Reimonn TM; Michael M; Tian T; Owyoung J; McGrath-Conwell A; Neufeld P; Mueth M; Molliver DC; Ward PJ
  • Neuromodulation using bioluminescent optogenetics in sympathetic neurons
    Volume: 32 Page(s): 32 - 32
    01/01/2023 Authors: Tian T; Owyoung J; SiMa H; Ward PJ
  • Angiogenesis is critical for the exercise-mediated enhancement of axon regeneration following peripheral nerve injury.
    Exp Neurol Volume: 353 Page(s): 114029
    07/01/2022 Authors: Wariyar SS; Brown AD; Tian T; Pottorf TS; Ward PJ
  • HIF1a and angiogenesis are critical for the regenerative effects of exercise

    01/01/2022 Authors: Ward P; Wariyar S; Tian T; Pottorf T; Brown A
  • Neuronal androgen receptor is required for activity dependent enhancement of peripheral nerve regeneration.
    Dev Neurobiol Volume: 81 Page(s): 411 - 423
    05/01/2021 Authors: Ward PJ; Davey RA; Zajac JD; English AW
  • Asparagine Endopeptidase ( Secretase), an Enzyme Implicated in Alzheimer's Disease Pathology, Is an Inhibitor of Axon Regeneration in Peripheral Nerves.
    eNeuro Volume: 8
    01/01/2021 Authors: English AW; Liu X; Mistretta OC; Ward PJ; Ye K
  • Web Exclusive. Annals Graphic Medicine - How the Virus Stole Anatomy.
    Ann Intern Med Volume: 173 Page(s): W135 - W142
    10/20/2020 Authors: Tigges S; Ward PJ
  • Physiological and functional responses of water-cooled versus traditional radiofrequency ablation of peripheral nerves in rats.
    Reg Anesth Pain Med Volume: 45 Page(s): 792 - 798
    10/01/2020 Authors: Zachariah C; Mayeux J; Alas G; Adesina S; Mistretta OC; Ward PJ; Chen A; English AW; Washington AV
  • Chimeric Peptide Species Contribute to Divergent Dipeptide Repeat Pathology in c9ALS/FTD and SCA36.
    Neuron Volume: 107 Page(s): 292 - 305.e6
    07/22/2020 Authors: McEachin ZT; Gendron TF; Raj N; Garca-Murias M; Banerjee A; Purcell RH; Ward PJ; Todd TW; Merritt-Garza ME; Jansen-West K
  • Modified Anterior Tibial Artery Perforator-Pedicled Propeller Flap for Soft-Tissue Coverage of the Ankle and Heel.
    World J Surg Volume: 44 Page(s): 2237 - 2242
    07/01/2020 Authors: Lin J; Zhou F; Sun Y-D; Gao Y-S; Li H-Z; Zheng H-P; Zhang Y-F; Li Q-F; Ward PJ; Yang Y-L
  • Effects of Repeated 20-Hz Electrical Stimulation on Functional Recovery Following Peripheral Nerve Injury.
    Neurorehabil Neural Repair Volume: 33 Page(s): 775 - 784
    09/01/2019 Authors: Park S; Liu C-Y; Ward PJ; Jaiswal PB; English AW
  • Optical Stimulation and Electrophysiological Analysis of Regenerating Peripheral Axons.
    Bio Protoc Volume: 9
    06/20/2019 Authors: Ward PJ; English AW
  • Chemogenetic Enhancement of Axon Regeneration Following Peripheral Nerve Injury in the SLICK-A Mouse.
    Brain Sci Volume: 8
    05/22/2018 Authors: Jaiswal PB; Mistretta OC; Ward PJ; English AW
  • Optogenetically enhanced axon regeneration: motor versus sensory neuron-specific stimulation.
    Eur J Neurosci Volume: 47 Page(s): 294 - 304
    02/01/2018 Authors: Ward PJ; Clanton SL; English AW
  • Optically-Induced Neuronal Activity Is Sufficient to Promote Functional Motor Axon Regeneration In Vivo.
    PLoS One Volume: 11 Page(s): e0154243
    01/01/2016 Authors: Ward PJ; Jones LN; Mulligan A; Goolsby W; Wilhelm JC; English AW
  • Selective Requirement for Maintenance of Synaptic Contacts onto Motoneurons by Target-Derived trkB Receptors.
    Neural Plast Volume: 2016 Page(s): 2371893
    01/01/2016 Authors: Zhu X; Ward PJ; English AW
  • Training-Induced Functional Gains following SCI.
    Neural Plast Volume: 2016 Page(s): 4307694
    01/01/2016 Authors: Ward PJ; Herrity AN; Harkema SJ; Hubscher CH
  • Neuronal BDNF signaling is necessary for the effects of treadmill exercise on synaptic stripping of axotomized motoneurons.
    Neural Plast Volume: 2015 Page(s): 392591
    01/01/2015 Authors: Krakowiak J; Liu C; Papudesu C; Ward PJ; Wilhelm JC; English AW
  • Exercise, neurotrophins, and axon regeneration in the PNS.
    Physiology (Bethesda) Volume: 29 Page(s): 437 - 445
    11/01/2014 Authors: English AW; Wilhelm JC; Ward PJ
  • Novel multi-system functional gains via task specific training in spinal cord injured male rats.
    J Neurotrauma Volume: 31 Page(s): 819 - 833
    05/01/2014 Authors: Ward PJ; Herrity AN; Smith RR; Willhite A; Harrison BJ; Petruska JC; Harkema SJ; Hubscher CH
  • The effects of exercise on synaptic stripping require androgen receptor signaling.
    PLoS One Volume: 9 Page(s): e98633
    01/01/2014 Authors: Liu C; Ward PJ; English AW
  • Persistent polyuria in a rat spinal contusion model.
    J Neurotrauma Volume: 29 Page(s): 2490 - 2498
    10/10/2012 Authors: Ward PJ; Hubscher CH
  • Modeling growth factor activity during proinflammatory stress: methodological considerations in assessing cytokine modulation of IGF binding proteins released by cultured bovine kidney epithelial cells.
    Domest Anim Endocrinol Volume: 33 Page(s): 390 - 399
    11/01/2007 Authors: Elsasser TH; Caperna TJ; Ward PJ; Sartin JL; Steele BP; Li C; Kahl S
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