Karen L Lankford, PhD
Associate Research Scientist in NeurologyDownloadHi-Res Photo
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Associate Research Scientist in Neurology
Biography
Karen Lankford has a broadly based background in biology and over thirty years of experience with cell culture and quantitative morphometric analysis techniques using a wide variety of light and electron microscopic procedures. She is philosophically committed to following the data wherever it may lead, even when it involves shifting the direction and learning new techniques.
In addition to her research activities, she is in the process of attempting to develop a nonprofit website to provide basic brain science information to patients and families dealing with serious neurological or neuropsychiatric disorders. The site will provide this information in a layman friendly conversational tone with the goal of helping patients and family members understand what their doctor is trying to explain to them and participate in a more meaningful way in treatment decision.
Appointments
Education & Training
- PhD
- Northwestern University (1987)
Research
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Karen L Lankford's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Karen L Lankford's research output by year.
Jeffery Kocsis, PhD
Stephen Waxman, MD, PhD
Masanori Sasaki, MD, PhD
18Publications
990Citations
Publications
2023
Human mesenchymal stem‐derived extracellular vesicles improve body growth and motor function following severe spinal cord injury in rat
Nakazaki M, Lankford K, Yamamoto H, Mae Y, Kocsis J. Human mesenchymal stem‐derived extracellular vesicles improve body growth and motor function following severe spinal cord injury in rat. Clinical And Translational Medicine 2023, 13: e1284. PMID: 37323108, PMCID: PMC10272923, DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1284.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsSpinal cord injurySevere spinal cord injuryFunctional motor recoveryYoung adult ratsMotor recoveryMesenchymal stem/stromal cellsSmall extracellular vesiclesMSC-sEVsCord injuryM2 macrophagesMotor functionAdult ratsBody growthPro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosisAdult spinal cord injuryDay 7 post-SCISystemic pro-inflammatory cytokinesIGF-1 levelsPro-inflammatory cytokinesCytokine tumor necrosisSystemic serum levelsBroad therapeutic benefitsNormal body growthExtracellular vesiclesDifferent treatment groupsDeriving Schwann cells from hPSCs enables disease modeling and drug discovery for diabetic peripheral neuropathy
Majd H, Amin S, Ghazizadeh Z, Cesiulis A, Arroyo E, Lankford K, Majd A, Farahvashi S, Chemel A, Okoye M, Scantlen M, Tchieu J, Calder E, Le Rouzic V, Shibata B, Arab A, Goodarzi H, Pasternak G, Kocsis J, Chen S, Studer L, Fattahi F. Deriving Schwann cells from hPSCs enables disease modeling and drug discovery for diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Cell Stem Cell 2023, 30: 632-647.e10. PMID: 37146583, PMCID: PMC10249419, DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2023.04.006.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsDiabetic peripheral neuropathySchwann cellsPeripheral neuropathyPeripheral nervous systemPrimary Schwann cellsBupropion treatmentDiabetic patientsMyelin damageSensory dysfunctionPrimary gliaSelective vulnerabilityAntidepressant drugsHyperglycemic miceLower incidenceRetrospective analysisHuman pluripotent stem cellsSC deathNervous systemTherapeutic candidateHigh glucoseNeuropathyHealth recordsMolecular featuresStem cellsPluripotent stem cells
2013
Sciatic nerve regeneration is not inhibited by anti-NGF antibody treatment in the adult rat
Lankford K, Arroyo E, Liu C, Somps C, Zorbas M, Shelton D, Evans M, Hurst S, Kocsis J. Sciatic nerve regeneration is not inhibited by anti-NGF antibody treatment in the adult rat. Neuroscience 2013, 241: 157-169. PMID: 23531437, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.03.024.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsNerve growth factorAdult ratsNerve regenerationFunctional recoveryAnti-NGF antibody treatmentElevated nerve growth factorUnilateral sciatic nerve crushDorsal root ganglion neuronsAnti-NGF antibodySciatic nerve crushType of painVehicle-treated animalsSciatic nerve regenerationPost nerve injuryNovel therapeutic approachesCell body sizePeripheral nerve regenerationFluro-GoldPeripheral nervous system developmentNerve injuryPain modelNerve crushPain managementAntibody treatmentGait recovery
2012
LOP08
Radtke C, Lankford K, Sasaki M, Kocsis J, Vogt P. LOP08. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery 2012, 130: 481. DOI: 10.1097/01.prs.0000418400.18580.18.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2008
18 MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: REMYELINATION
KOCSIS J, SASAKI M, LANKFORD K, RADTKE C. 18 MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: REMYELINATION. 2008, 413-435. DOI: 10.1016/b978-012373994-0.50020-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsMyelin-forming cellsMultiple sclerosisConduction abnormalitiesPotential neuroprotective effectsProminent pathological featurePeripheral nervous systemEndogenous progenitor cellsPotassium channel distributionRemyelinated axonsIon channel organizationDemyelinated lesionsNeuroprotective effectsAxonal transectionPathological featuresFunctional deficitsMyelin repairAxonal repairMyelin resultsNervous systemImpulse conductionProgenitor cellsRemyelinationSclerosisTransectionAbnormalities
2006
Remyelination of the non-human primate CNS axons by transplantation of porcine olfactory ensheathing cells
Radtke C, Akiyama Y, Brokaw J, Lankford K, Wewetzer K, Vogt P, Fodor W, Kocsis J. Remyelination of the non-human primate CNS axons by transplantation of porcine olfactory ensheathing cells. Journal Of Plastic Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery 2006, 59: s10. DOI: 10.1016/j.bjps.2006.03.029.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2001
[The role of transplanted astrocytes for the regeneration of CNS axons].
Imaizumi T, Lankford K, Kocsis J, Hashi K. [The role of transplanted astrocytes for the regeneration of CNS axons]. Brain And Nerve 脳と神経 2001, 53: 632-8. PMID: 11517487.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsCompound action potentialRegenerated axonsSC transplantationAxonal regenerationAdult ratsLong-tract axonsMyelin associated proteinsDorsal column axonsRegeneration of axonsDC axonsCell transplantationDorsal rootsNeonatal ratsSpinal cordReduction of scarsHistological examinationTransplantationMammalian CNSCNS axonsAction potentialsAxonsMyelin formationLesionsThree daysRatsTransplantation of Cryopreserved Adult Human Schwann Cells Enhances Axonal Conduction in Demyelinated Spinal Cord
Kohama I, Lankford K, Preiningerova J, White F, Vollmer T, Kocsis J. Transplantation of Cryopreserved Adult Human Schwann Cells Enhances Axonal Conduction in Demyelinated Spinal Cord. Journal Of Neuroscience 2001, 21: 944-950. PMID: 11157080, PMCID: PMC2605383, DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.21-03-00944.2001.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsHuman Schwann cellsSchwann cellsDorsal columnsSural nerveAxonal conductionIntra-axonal recording techniquesDorsal column lesionLegs of patientsDemyelinated spinal cordHuman sural nerveAdult human Schwann cellsFunctional remyelinationExtensive remyelinationCell-based therapiesMultiple sclerosisVascular diseaseSpinal cordWistar ratsConduction blockAdult CNSConduction velocityLesion zoneAction potentialsMonoclonal antibodiesLesions
2000
Xenotransplantation of transgenic pig olfactory ensheathing cells promotes axonal regeneration in rat spinal cord
Imaizumi T, Lankford K, Burton W, Fodor W, Kocsis J. Xenotransplantation of transgenic pig olfactory ensheathing cells promotes axonal regeneration in rat spinal cord. Nature Biotechnology 2000, 18: 949-953. PMID: 10973214, PMCID: PMC2605371, DOI: 10.1038/79432.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsMeSH KeywordsAnimalsAnimals, Genetically ModifiedAxonsCD59 AntigensCell SeparationElectrophysiologyFlow CytometryFluorescent Antibody Technique, IndirectHumansImmunosuppression TherapyModels, BiologicalOlfactory NerveRatsRats, WistarRegenerationSchwann CellsSciatic NerveSpinal CordSwineTransgenesTransplantation, HeterologousConceptsAxonal regenerationSpinal cordSchwann cellsImpulse conductionLesion-control ratsDorsal column lesionTransplantation of olfactoryRat spinal cordConduction velocity measurementsComplement inhibitory proteinsHyperacute responseRegenerated axonsImmunosuppressed ratsTransection siteLesion sitePeripheral patternHost tractCordNormal axonsDonor cellsAxonsInhibitory proteinRatsDonor cell typeTransgenic pigs[Characteristic improvement of the function following Schwann cell transplantation for demyelinated spinal cord].
Imaizumi T, Lankford K, Kocsis J, Honmou O, Kohama I, Hashi K. [Characteristic improvement of the function following Schwann cell transplantation for demyelinated spinal cord]. No Shinkei Geka. Neurological Surgery 2000, 28: 705-11. PMID: 11002493.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsCompound action potentialDorsal rootsSchwann cellsSC transplantationSC myelinationAdult ratsConduction velocityTransplantation of SCsNormal DCsDorsal root ganglion neuronsDorsal column axonsLower conduction velocityGanglion neuronsSpinal cordDemyelinated axonsHistological examinationTransplantationAction potentialsRemyelinationAxonsOligodendrocytesRatsMyelinationAnatomical differencesLow amplitude