In this episode with Dr. Ina Wanner, Ph.D., an Associate Research Neuroscientist at the UCLA Geffen School of Medicine, we dive into the fascinating and complex world of neurotrauma research. Dr. Wanner, part of the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, has dedicated her career to improving outcomes for patients with traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries.

Dr. Wanner’s background in Biology and Human Biology, coupled with her two post-doctoral fellowships, including work at The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, has driven her groundbreaking research on neuron-glial interactions and the vital role of astrocytes—the star-shaped support cells in the brain—in recovery from neurotrauma. In today’s conversation, Dr. Wanner shares her insights on the cellular aftermath of traumatic injuries and how understanding these responses is reshaping diagnostic and treatment strategies.

We’ll also explore her patented biomarker invention, which has opened new avenues for detecting brain trauma, and discuss her role in leading a multi-site consortium focused on enhancing research consistency across neurotrauma labs. Dr. Wanner’s work is setting the stage for more personalized, effective treatment approaches, and her journey highlights the exciting future of neurotrauma research.

Dr. Wanner's research papers discussed during the interview:

• A Framework to Advance Biomarker Development in the Diagnosis, Outcome Prediction, and Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury


• Prospective Harmonization, Common Data Elements, and Sharing Strategies for Multicenter Preclinical TBI Research: A Translational Outcomes Project in NeuroTrauma (TOP-NT) Consortium Study