Austin Ferro

Ph.D. 2020

PhD Thesis:

The Role of Microglia and Astrocytes in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type II.

Current Position:

Postdoctoral Associate, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Undergraduate Institution and Major:

Skidmore College, B.A., Neuroscience, 2015
 

Graduate Advisors:

Marija Cvetanovic, Ph.D., Department of Neuroscience 
Alfonso Araque, Ph.D., Department of Neuroscience

Description of Graduate Research:

Glial cells are integral cell types to the overall function of the central nervous system, yet how they may function and or contribute to neurodegenerative disease is not well understood. Our lab has begun to elucidate the functional role of Bergmann glia, a cerebellar astroglia, in spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1). Specifically, we are demonstrating how Bergmann glial gene expression changes contribute to SCA1 progression in hopes of elucidating potential glial based therapeutic targets. 

Graduate Publications:

  • Sheeler C, Rosa JG, Ferro A, McAdams B, Borgenheimer E, Cvetanovic M. Glia in neurodegeneration: The housekeeper, the defender and the perpetrator. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Dec 2;21(23):9188.
  • Ferro A, Sheeler C, Cvetanovic M. Microglial self-recognition STINGs in A-T neurodegeneration. Trends Neurosci. 2019;42(11):753-755.
  • Mellesmoen A, Sheeler C, Ferro A, Rainwater O, Cvetanovic M. Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) delays onset of pathogenesis in transgenic mouse model of apinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1). Front Cell Neurosci. 2019 Jan 21;12:509.
  • Ferro A, Sheeler C, Rosa JG, Cvetanovic M. Role of microglia in ataxias. J Mol Biol. 2019;431(9):1792-1804.
  • Ferro A, Qu W, Lukowicz A, Svedberg D, Johnson A, Cvetanovic M. Inhibition of NF-κB signaling in IKKβF/F;LysM Cre mice causes motor deficits but does not alter pathogenesis of spinocerebellar ataxia type 1. PLoS One. 2018 Jul 5;13(7):e0200013.

Graduate Abstracts:

  • Ferro A, Araque A, Cvetanovic M. Biphasic function of Bergmann glia in SCA1. Gordon Research Conference: Cerebellum. Presented by A. Ferro, 2019.
  • Ferro A, Kim J, Araque A, Cvetanovic M. Biphasic function of Bergmann glia in SCA1. Poster at 3rd Annual Wallin Neuroscience Discovery day, Minneapolis, MN. Presented by A. Ferro (Poster), 2018.
  • Ferro A, Kim J, Araque A, Cvetanovic M. Biphasic function of Bergmann glia in SCA1. Poster and Hot Chair talk, National Ataxia Foundation Investigators Meeting, Philadelphia, PA. Presented by A. Ferro (Talk and Poster), 2018
  • Ferro A, Araque A, Cvetanovic M. Bimodal function of Bergmann glia in SCA1 disease progression. Talk Internation,al Astrocyte School, Bertinoro (Italy). Presented by A. Ferro (Poster), 2018.
  • Ferro A, Araque A, Cvetanovic M. Bimodal function of astroglia in SCA1 disease. Poster at International Astrocyte School, Bertinoro, Italy, 2017

Graduate Awards/Honora:

  • 2018 1st place poster winner Wallin Neuroscience Discovery Day, University of Minnesota
  • 2018 Hot Chair travel grant, National Ataxia Foundation
  • 2018 F31 NS103392-01A1, NIH
  • 2018 Sping and Ying Ngoh Lin Award for Research Independence
  • 2018 NAF Young Investigator grant, National Ataxia Foundation
  • 2017 Stark Award, University of Minnesota.

Thesis Committee Members:

Harry T. Orr, Ph.D., Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (Chair)
Marija Cvetanovic, Ph.D., Department of Neuroscience 
Alfonso Araque, Ph.D., Department of Neuroscience
Sylvain Lesne, Ph.D., Department of Neuroscience
Eric Newman, Ph.D., Department of Neuroscience

Research Categories:

  • Neurodegenerative Diseases & Neural Injury
  • Neuroimaging & Optogenetics 
  • Electrophysiology 

Rotations:

Sylvain Lesne, Ph.D., Department of Neuroscience
Marija Cvetanovic, Ph.D., Department of Neuroscience 
Harry T. Orr, Ph.D., Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology
Stanley A. Thayer, Ph.D., Department of Pharmacology 

Why Did You Choose MN? 

Before applying to the graduate program I was and had been performing research on neurodegenerative disease, and in particular, spinoceberellar ataxia type 1. Due to the excellence of the ataxia research and associated faculty at the University of Minnesota, it was a clear and easy choice. At the University of Minnesota, there are great research faculty that cover topics from molecular and cellular mechanisms all the way to biomarker discovery in patients. With such a great range of topics within the field of neurodegenerative disease, the University of Minnesota was a clear and obvious choice. 

What Advice Would You Give A First Year Graduate Student?

Identify in which lab you rotate that you enjoy the most and is doing the work that you would like to be doing. By doing so, you will be a happier and more productive researcher.  

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