The goal of Dr. Grinspan’s research centers on identifying factors in the central nervous system that inhibit the development of mature oligodendrocytes both during development and disease. Along with her colleagues, she has observed the role that oxidative stress and inflammation have on impeding myelination. Consequently, she has identified several families of signaling factors in the central nervous system that are activated by these processes and interfere with oligodendrocyte development and myelination, including bone morphogenetic proteins and the Wnt/b-catenin family of signaling factors.

Using a variety of approaches including cell culture, genetic, and disease models, Dr. Grinspan’s studies focus on factors that inhibit myelin regeneration in multiple sclerosis, including the role of lipid regulation, myelin loss, and oligodendrocyte dysfunction in HIV-associated neurocognitive deficits, including the role of antiretroviral drugs, and factors that limit myelination in perinatal white matter injury.

Dr. Grinspan’s notable career achievements include:

• Identifying the oligodendrocyte pre-progenitor cell, a link between neural stem cells and the oligodendrocyte lineage.
• Providing evidence that a family of growth factors, the bone morphogenetic proteins, are elevated in de- and dys-myelinating diseases and are responsible for the inability of oligodendrocyte progenitors to mature and effect remyelination.
• Illuminating the role for oligodendrocyte pathology in HIV-associated neurocognitive deficits (HAND), a common component of HIV even when properly controlled by anti-retroviral agents, Dr. Grinspan and her colleagues showed that oligodendrocytes can be inhibited from myelinating or remyelinating in the presence of select antiretroviral agents.
• Receiving the professional Impact award from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (2012)

AB, Vassar College (Biology), 1974

MS, Hahnemann University (Pathology), 1977

PhD, University of Pennsylvania (Biology), 1984

Co-Leader, Developmental Biology Research Affinity Group

Research Professor of Neurology

American Society of Neurochemistry, 1985-

Society for Neuroscience, 1990-

Mahoney Institute for Neurological Science, 1991-

Professional Impact Award from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 2012