Mohammed Abdul Muneer, PhD

Research Interests: Neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in traumatic brain injury (TBI), blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption and transmigration of immune cells in TBI, neurovascular dysfunction in alcohol use disorder (AUD), gene and peptide-based therapeutic strategies for TBI and AUD, and survival surgeries and rodent behavioral assessments.

Research Advancements: neuronal and neurovascular dysfunction in TBI and chronic alcohol exposure using advanced molecular biology tools, high-resolution microscopy and imaging, cerebral blood flow analysis, optogenetics, and electrophysiology. The research integrates gene and peptide therapies to promote neurovascular repair and cognitive recovery. Using in vivo and in vitro injury models, the lab applies viral gene transfer, CRISPR/Cas9 editing, conditional knockouts, pharmacological interventions, survival surgeries, and behavioral assays.

Research Area: molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying axonal regeneration, neuronal repair, and survival following traumatic brain injury (TBI), aiming to develop effective therapeutic strategies for neurological recovery. His research explores signaling pathways that limit neuronal regeneration in central nervous system (CNS) injury. Additionally, Dr. Muneer investigates blood-brain barrier disruption and its role in neurovascular inflammation and neurological disorders such as stroke linked to alcohol use disorder.

Lab: The Laboratory of CNS Injury and Molecular Therapy