Dr. Amy Carthy

Biography

The Smith Neurotrauma Laboratory focuses on the mechanical events in time of brain injury and their relation to long-term outcomes. Specifically, it concentrates on the fate of nerve fibers in the brain, known as axons, which appear to be exquisitely vulnerable to trauma. Brain trauma is a devastating condition that affects 2 million people in the United States each year. However, the underlying mechanisms of brain trauma have only begun to be elucidated. Prior research has indicated that unique features of physical damage induced by brain trauma trigger progressive degenerative damage, which serves as the basis for research efforts at Penn. The laboratory adopts a multidisciplinary approach that includes computer models, experimental in vitro and in vivo studies, and clinical post-mortem human data to elucidate the mechanisms underlying axonal damage in traumatic brain injury. Additionally, the research focuses on neurorepair strategies for spinal cord and nerve injuries, exploring how central and peripheral nervous system axons can grow long distances in response to mechanical tension, which is critical for bridging damaged axons.

Research Interests