Gordon Mitchell, Ph.D.
Preeminence Professor and Director, Center for Respiratory
Research and Rehabilitation
University of Florida
“Intermittent hypoxia-induced spinal plasticity: breathing and walking after spinal injury”
Intermittent hypoxia exerts both pathogenic and beneficial effects–depending on “dose.” Pathogenesis is observed with “high dose” intermittent hypoxia simulating that experienced during sleep apnea. In striking contrast, “low dose” intermittent hypoxia exerts beneficial effects in multiple systems, including its ability to elicit motor plasticity. In this presentation, I will outline more than 20 years of basic research concerning neural network and cellular mechanisms of intermittent hypoxia-induced respiratory motor plasticity. That background will help understand recent translational efforts to harness the potential of moderate acute intermittent hypoxia as a therapeutic modality to improve breathing, walking and arm/hand function in people with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury. I will end by discussing potential applications of this approach in other neuromuscular disorders that compromise movement and end life due to ventilatory failure.
Friday, January 18, 2019 11:00AM-12:00PM, LIB-110
University of North Texas Health Science Center
Fort Worth, Texas