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Zarife Sahenk, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor
Nationwide Children's Research Institute
Center for Gene Therapy, WA 3024
700 Children's Drive
Columbus, OH 43205
Phone: (614)
722-2202
Fax: (614) 355-5247
Email: Zarife.sahenk@nationwidechildrens.org
Education & Training:
Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey 1967 B.S.
Hacettepe University,
Ankara, Turkey 1972 M.D.
Ohio State University, 1975 Residency in Neurology
Ohio State University,
1976 Clinical Neuromuscular Fellow
Ohio State University, 1977-78 Neuromuscular
Research Fellow
Ohio State University, 1998 Ph.D.
Research Interest:
Dr. Sahenk currently serves as Director of Clinical and Experimental
Neuromuscular Pathology at The Research Institute at Nationwide Childrens
Hospital and holds Professorships in Neurology and Pediatrics at the Ohio
State University. Dr. Sahenk’s laboratory focuses on basic and
translational studies related to peripheral nerve disorders. An important
goal has been testing therapeutic options to alleviate nerve dysfunction
in experimental studies in order to contribute pre-clinical data in support
of clinical trials.
Current research aims are to define the anatomical and
molecular basis of hereditary peripheral neuropathies, emphasizing the
role of trophic factors in nerve regeneration and regeneration-associated
myelination. The role of neurotrophin-3 as well as Trk receptor specific
agonistic antibodies in nerve regeneration in animal models of Charcot-Marie-Tooth
(CMT) is currently under investigation. In addition, the laboratory works
on projects involving the development of therapeutics and novel methods
to deliver therapeutic genes more efficiently to the peripheral nerves.
These studies are relevant to understanding the mechanism of axonal loss
and impaired regeneration in CMT disorders and developing rational therapies
to alleviate nerve dysfunction and promote nerve regeneration.
Selected Publications:
- Zhang, X., Chow, C.Y., Sahenk, Z., Shy, M.E., Meisler, M.H., Li,
J. (2008) Mutation
of FIG4 causes a rapidly progressive, asymmetric neuronal degeneration, Brain,
131(Pt 8): 1990-2001.
- Sahenk, Z., Nagaraja, H.N., McCracken, B.S., King, W.M., Freimer,
M.L., Cedarbaum, J.M., Mendell, J.R. (2005) NT-3
promotes nerve regeneration and sensory improvement in CMT1A mouse
models and in patients, Neurology, 65:681-689.
- Sahenk Z, Serrano-Munuera C, Chen L, Kakabadze I. (2003) Evidence
for impaired regeneration in PMP22 duplication: Studies in nerve
xenografts. J Periph Nerv Syst., 8: 116-127.
- Abrams CK, Freidin M, Bukauskas F, Dobrenis K, Bargiello TA, Verselis
VK, Bennett MVL, Chen L and Sahenk Z. (2003) Pathogenesis of CMTX:
Different effects of two mutations in connexin 32. J Neurosci., 23:
10548-10558.
- Feng B, Chen L, Drmanovich Z, Kakabadze I, Mendell JR, Marzluf
GA, Sahenk Z. (2000) Intracellular processing and toxicity of the
truncated androgen receptor: Nuclear congophilia associated cell
death. J Neuropath Exp Neurol., 59:652-663.
- Haney CA, Sahenk Z, Li c, Lemmon VP, Roder J, Trapp BD. (1999)
Heterophilic binding of L1 on unmyelinated sensory axons mediates
Schwann cell adhesion and required for axonal survival. J Cell
Biol., 146:1173-184.
- Sahenk Z. (1999) Abnormal Schwann cell-axon interactions in CMT
neuropathies. Ann NY Acad Sci., 883: 415- 426.
- Sahenk Z, Chen L. (1998) Abnormalities in the axonal cytoskeleton
induced by a Connexin 32 mutation in nerve xenografts. J
Neurosci Res., 51:174-184.
- Erdem S, Mendell JR, Sahenk Z. (1998) Fate of Schwann cells in
CMT1A and HNPP: Evidence for apoptosis J Neuropath Exp Neurol., 57:635-642.
- Sahenk Z, Sehareseyon J, Mendell JR, Burghes AHM. (1993) Gene delivery
to spinal motor neurons. Brain Research., 606:126-129.
- Flanigan KM, von Niederhausern A, Dunn DM, Alder J, Mendell JR, Weiss RB. (2003) Rapid
direct sequence analysis of the dystrophin gene. Am J Hum Genet.
Apr;72(4):931-9.
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