Faculty Research

Michael M. Wang MD PhD ( micwang@umich.edu )
Assistant Professor
Director of Molecular Stroke Research

Dr. Wang's laboratory studies the molecular basis of stroke and molecular neuroscience ( http://www.umich.edu/~Eneurosci/faculty/wang.htm ). We have three main lines of ongoing studies. (1) We are researching the molecular basis of the hereditary disorder, CADASIL (Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy), that results in ischemic stroke and vascular dementia. CADASIL is caused by mutations in the Notch3 gene. We are currently studying proteins which interact with Notch3 and are trying to uncover their roles in the pathogenesis of CADASIL. (2) We are interesting in rapid effects of estrogen in neurons, and how these effects are mediated. We have demonstrated that many of these effects can be mediated by estrogen receptor alpha expressed in the axons and dendrites of neurons; our current interests are in identifying molecules which target this receptor (which is usually nuclear) to neurites. (3) Collaborative studies with Dr. Pam Lein ( Oregon Health Sciences University ) aim to elucidate the genetic targets of bone morphogenetic protein stimulation of dendritic growth, a process which may be critical to neuronal recovery in diseases such as stroke.