Amy Gleichman, PhD

About

Biography

I study astrocytes as gene therapy targets to promote brain repair following stroke and vascular dementia, two major forms of ischemic brain injury. As one of the most abundant cell types in the brain, astrocytes play a central role in orchestrating recovery after injury. They respond dynamically to ischemic events by isolating damaged regions and altering their behavior in surrounding tissue. By uncovering how astrocytes adapt after stroke, we aim to identify precise intervention points that can enhance neural repair and improve outcomes for patients with ischemic brain damage.

As a postdoctoral fellow, I used mouse models to profile ischemic astrocytes after stroke, identifying a new astrocyte signaling system that drives vascular remodeling in a region-specific manner and influences recovery. To facilitate my studies of astrocyte biology, using my graduate school background in protein engineering and cloning, I developed improved astrocytic viral vectors by incorporating microRNA targeting sequences to induce transgene degradation in off-target cells. These tools are now in widespread use in the astrocyte field.

At the Gene Therapy Institute at The Ohio State University, our laboratory utilizes mouse models to investigate astrocyte responses to ischemic injury and pinpoint potential therapeutic intervention sites. To capitalize on these findings, we are also developing gene therapy strategies aimed at selectively targeting critical astrocytic subpopulations.

I appreciate the commitment to innovation here at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, and the readily available resources that allow me to pursue highly complex research.

Credentials

Research