-
Basic science discoveries drive novel approaches to disease
Dr. Staff's Translational Neuromuscular Disease Research Lab at Mayo Clinic uses human iPSC-derived sensory neurons to study mechanisms of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.
-
People with neuromuscular diseases contribute to help develop new treatments
Ongoing research in the Translational Neuromuscular Disease Research Lab at Mayo Clinic benefits from biosamples provided by volunteers with neuromuscular diseases, and the biosamples are shared widely with collaborators to maximize the impact of these valuable gifts.
-
Clinical trials test novel therapies
Dr. Staff's Translational Neuromuscular Disease Research Lab at Mayo Clinic facilitates innovative clinical trials for neuromuscular diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.
Overview
The Translational Neuromuscular Disease Research Laboratory, led by Nathan P. Staff, M.D., Ph.D., utilizes a wide range of methodologies to study basic biological mechanisms of neuromuscular disease and their direct application to patient care.
In the Translational Neuromuscular Disease Research Laboratory, Dr. Staff's research team investigates the molecular biology of peripheral nerve disorders, with a focus on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).
Human biosample collection is another area of research for the Translational Neuromuscular Disease Research team at Mayo Clinic. Dr. Staff's research team works diligently to provide opportunities for people who have neuromuscular disease to volunteer by providing biosamples. This collaboration helps researchers understand their diseases with the ultimate goal of finding a cure.
Finally, the Translational Neuromuscular Disease Research team participates in clinical trials. For new therapies to become available for patients, clinical trials must be completed to ensure safety and benefits. Dr. Staff helps lead a clinical research team that performs clinical trials that test therapies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and CIPN. Working with industry and academic partners, the research team has opened multiple clinical trials for Mayo Clinic patients. Notably, in collaboration with Mayo Clinic's Immune, Progenitor, and Cell Therapeutics (IMPACT) Laboratory and Mayo Clinic Center for Regenerative Biotherapeutics, Dr. Staff and his colleagues are at the leading edge of mesenchymal stem cell therapies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
About Dr. Staff
Dr. Staff is a neurologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and an associate professor of neurology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. His research focus is to discover new treatments or prevent peripheral nervous system damage that occurs after surgery, from chemotherapy and ALS.