Meet Our Team

Pamela J. VandeVord, Principal Investigator

N. Waldo Harrison Professor

Biomedical Engineering Program Chair

Education
Wayne State University: Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering, 2002
Wayne State University: M.S., Biomedical Sciences, 1996
Michigan State University: B.S., Physiology, 1992

Research Areas

• Biomechanics
• Nanobioengineering
• Neuroengineering
• Cell Injury Models

Research Interests
My brain injury research and educational platforms focus on the complex mechanisms of injury to the brain, with a thrust to understand the persistent neurobehavioral and neuropathological consequences of this traumatic event. For the past 15 years, I have been studying the fundamental questions concerning the mode of energy transfer to the brain during traumatic injuries as well as the consequent damage or disruptive mechanisms at the cellular and molecular levels.

My group investigates the molecular changes that occur within cells and their environment which lead to dysfunction. Our lab strives to use ‘condition-appropriate’ injury devices that mimic the injury being investigated. Correlation of the injury event to the temporal effects seen at the cellular level can only be accurate when the mode of injury is realistic to human conditions. Our work strives to provide mechanistic insight for outcomes such as elevated anxiety, cognitive deficits, and fear triggered by the traumatic event.

Collectively, these efforts will help the community understand how the brain becomes injured from traumatic events, and we work to provide a platform to design novel strategies to protect against, as well as identify and treat the injury, and alleviate the negative behavioral outcomes.

TNT Lab Members