Lucas Budd
Program: Unspecified
Current advisor:
Undergraduate university: University of Florida
Research summary
Long-gap defects pose a significant challenge to peripheral nerve functional recovery after injury. The extent of axonal regeneration after peripheral nerve injury is significantly influenced by the phenotypic state adopted by supportive glial cells, such as Schwann cells. Schwann cells can be redirected from a maladaptive and anti-regenerative phenotype to a regenerative state through the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway. Hydrogels can serve as carrier of Hh signaling agonists to modulate Schwann cell phenotypes and promote peripheral nerve regeneration. My project investigates the use of hyaluronic acid-based hydrogels with cell adhesion peptides for localized delivery of Hh pathway agonists.
Graduate publications