Lead Duke PI
Scott Floyd, MD, PhD
Gary Hock and Lyn Proctor Associate Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University
Visit the Floyd Lab site
Visit Dr. Floyd’s faculty page
Research Interests
Brain tumors, neurodegenerative disease, brain metastasis, glioma, glioblastoma, medulloblastoma, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, brain infarct, Huntington’s disease, DNA damage, radiation therapy, normal tissue, radiation response
Research Plan
Diseases of the brain carry particular morbidity and mortality, given the fundamental function of the brain for human life and quality of life. Disease of the brain are also particularly difficult to study, given the complexity of the brain. Model systems that capture this complexity, but still allow for experiments to test therapies and mechanisms of disease are badly needed. Working with the other scientists from University of North Carolina and University of Florida, we use an experimental model system of slices made from rat and mouse brains to create a test platform to research new treatments for brain diseases such as stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease and brain tumors. This model system reduces the number of experimental animals used, and streamlines experiments so that final testing in laboratory animals is more efficient. We use this brainslice system and limited numbers of experimental animals to test drugs and genetic pathways to treat stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease and brain tumors. As many brain tumors are treated with radiation therapy, we have a particular interest in the cellular response to DNA damage caused by radiation. DNA damage signaling and repair are fundamental processes necessary for cells to maintain genomic integrity. Problems with these processes can lead to cancer. As many cancer cells have altered DNA damage and repair pathways, we can apply DNA damage as cancer therapy. Our knowledge of how normal and neoplastic cells handle DNA damage is still incomplete. A deeper understanding can lead to improved cancer treatment, and to better protection from the harmful effects of DNA damaging agents like radiation. To this end, our experiments will test the effects of radiation on normal animal tissues and animal models of cancer, as well as molecular pathways in brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s and stroke.
