Elena Kozlova

Professor, Regenerative Neurobiology, Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, 2016

Associate Professor, Regenerative Neurobiology, Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, 2011-2016

Docent in neuroscience, Uppsala University, 2002

Senior Scientist, Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, 1995-2011

Postdoctoral positions Karolinska institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, 1993-1995, and National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London, UK, 1994-1995

PhD in Biology, 1991, Moscow State University (MGU), Moscow, Russia, 1991

The long term objectives of our research are to i) promote functional recovery following injury or disease in the spinal cord, tii) exploit tii) he beneficial potential of stem cells for tissue repair, and iii) develop nanomaterial based technology for translation to neurodegenerative disorders.

Injured peripheral nerve fibers are able to regenerate and thereby restore lost nervous system functions. Nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord are, however, unable to regenerate, and functional loss after injuries to these parts of the nervous system is often permanent. Furthermore, injury or disease of the nervous system can result in longstanding even chronic, pain conditions, so-called neuropathic pain. Our objective is to restore functions which are lost following spinal cord injury by
– promoting regeneration of injured fibers in the spinal cord,
– promoting functionally useful reorganization of neural connections (plasticity), and
– repair lost connections by transplantation of stem cells, which are guided to become desired type of neurons.

In recent studies we have also shown that growth, survival and function of insulin producing cells in the pancreas are markedly promoted if they are cultured or transplanted together with stem cells from the nervous system. These observations can offer novel opportunities to treat patients with type 1 diabetes who have lost large amounts of their insulin producing cells. Our objective is
– to identify the mechanisms underlying these stimulating effects, and
– to contribute to their exploration for the treatment of patients with diabetes type 1.

We have developed a system based on the nanomaterial mesoporous silica for delivery of growth stimulating molecules to the nervous system. We hare now in the process of developing this system further by exploting the capacity of mesoporous silica to absorb pathogenic molecules which are known to drive neurodegenerative disorders such as amyogrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Alzheimer's disease.