Faculty Members
Discovery and translational research requires a wide range of expertise, from knowledge of cellular systems to behavioral assays and clinical application. TAMSCI faculty bring training in medicine, physiology, biology, pharmacology, engineering, and psychology to discover new approaches to treatment and care. The 9 core faculty span 5 colleges (Education, Engineering, Medicine, Liberal Arts, Science, and Veterinary Medicine) at Texas A&M University.
Assistant Professor, Biology
Areas of Interest:
Spinal cord injury
Neural stem cell transplantation
Characterizing pathophysiology of motor, sensory, and autonomic dysfunctions after SCI
Professor, Educational Psychology
Areas of Interest:
Interpersonal behavior and adjustment of persons with spinal cord injury, and persons living with chronic and debilitating health conditions
Interventions for caregivers
Assistant Professor, Neuroscience & Experimental Therapeutics
Areas of Interest:
Spinal cord plasticity, axon regeneration & sprouting
Impact of aging
Inflammation & glial scar
SCI associated liver dysfunction & cardiovascular disease
Mary Tucker Currie Professor, Psychology
Areas of Interest:
Spinal cord plasticity & learning
How pain inputs affects tissue & recovery after spinal cord injury
Treatments to reduce secondary injury
Assistant Professor, Neuroscience & Experimental Therapeutics
Areas of Interest:
Effects of opioids on lesion size and recovery after spinal cord injury
Neuropathic pain
Depression following spinal cord injury
Addiction following injury
Inflammation and bone loss after spinal injury
Professor, Small Animal Clinical Sciences
Areas of Interest:
Spinal cord injury
Nervous system plasticity
Transplantation into the spinal cord
Functional outcome measures
Data analysis
Yuming Lei, PhD
Assistant Professor, Health and Kinesiology
Areas of Interest:
Brain stimulation
Motor learning
Neuroplasticity
Neurorehabilitation
Professor and Helen McWhorther Chair, Small Animal Clinical Sciences
Areas of Interest:
Naturally occurring canine spinal cord injury
Neuroprotective therapies
Assistant Professor, Biology
Areas of Interest:
Spinal cord injury
Inflammation
Secondary damage/pathogenesis after SCI
Neuroprotection
Three-dimensional imaging of inflammation and plasticity after SCI
Assistant Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Areas of Interest:
Integrated neuroprosthesis with sensorimotor loop intervention
Rehabilitation of patterned/rhythmic muscle activity
Wireless intraoral device and its applications
Bio-mimicking/bio-inspired circuits and systems