Lydia Daboussi, Ph.D.

The peripheral nervous system possesses an astonishing capability for self-repair, but can eventually become overwhelmed by injury or disease, resulting in impaired motor and sensory function. The compilation of genetic disorders, metabolic diseases, environmental stressors and injury that lead to sensorimotor dysfunction, termed peripheral neuropathies, make this class of disease a common neurological disorder. 

Historically, nervous system injuries and diseases have been studied from a “neuron-centric” perspective, however peripheral nerve regeneration also depends on axon-to-glia signaling to induce Schwann cells plasticity. Schwann cells are a type of glial cells that surround neuronal axons, keeping them alive and sometimes covering them with a myelin sheath. They respond to axonal damage by transiently transdifferentiating into specialized ‘repair cells’ that facilitate axonal regrowth and reinnervation of axonal targets, promoting a return to normal sensorimotor function. 

Daboussi’s research lies at the intersection of the fields of glial biology, axonal regeneration and cytoplasmic-to-nuclear signaling. She is focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms of nervous system plasticity to gain insight into the regenerative processes that occur after injury and during chronic disease. Daboussi’s long-term goal is to harness how Schwann cells maintain and induce their regenerative capacity to inform the development of future therapies.