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Justin M. Balko, Pharm.D., Ph.D.
E. Penni Black, Ph.D.
Albert R. Cunningham, Ph.D.
Robert Falk, M.D.
Ted Kalbfleisch, Ph.D.
Y. James Kang, Ph.D.
Claudio Maldonado, Ph.D.
Gustavo A. Perez-Abadia, M.D.
William Pierce, Ph.D.
Norman D. Radtke, M.D.
Fred J. Roisen, Ph.D.
Haval Shirwan, Ph.D.
Audra Stinchcomb, Ph.D.
Roland Valdes, Jr., Ph.D.
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Inventors - Fred J. Roisen, Ph.D.
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Fred J. Roisen, Ph.D., RhinoCyte
Fred J. Roisen, Ph.D., founder and president of RhinoCyte, Inc., is professor and chair of the Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology in the School of Medicine at the University of Louisville.
The major focus of Dr. Roisen's research has been to elucidate structure-function relationships in three areas of developmental neurobiology: neuroplasticity, neuritogenesis, and trophic interactions. His studies employ cell cultures coupled with immunocytochemistry, confocal and electron microscopy, metabolic analysis, and kinematic morphometry.
Dr. Roisen and members of his research team have developed methods for the in vitro growth of human adult olfactory epithelium. This tissue has the potential to provide an autologous source of multipotent mitotically active stem cells. His team has shown that these cells can be lineage restriction with cytokines, growth factors and molecular techniques. These olfactory progenitors can be driven toward a variety of cell types including, neurons (immature, motor neurons, and dopaminergic) oligodendroglia and astrocytes.
The established human olfactory-derived cell lines that have been generated provide a unique source of neural stem cells for genetic, pharmacological and immunological evaluation. Their potential for autologous transplantation to repair spinal cord injuries has been demonstrated in both lesion and contusion models at several different levels of the spinal cord. Modulated cells have been engrafted into two different regions of the brains of an animal model of Parkinson's disease; initial results demonstrate improvement in 30% of the engrafted animals. In vitro studies have demonstrated that the olfactory progenitors when cultured on skeletal muscle form myoneural junctions and synthesis the key neurotransmitter acetylcholine. These results suggest that they may be able to provide therapeutic utility for motor neuron diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
Based on his research findings, Dr. Roisen founded RhinoCyte, Inc., a company developing diagnostic tools and therapies for the stem cell treatment of multiple degenerative and traumatic neurological diseases. On the basis of Dr. Roisen's research the FDA has awarded RhinoCyte two independent Orphan Drug Designations one for the treatment of Spinal Cord injuries and the other for the treatment of ALS I.
Dr. Roisen holds a B.S. in biochemistry from Northeastern University, and an M.S. degree in Zoology and Ph.D. in Development Physiology from Princeton University. Prior to his arrival at UofL in 1986 where he has served as Chair for 24 years, Dr. Roisen was on the faculty of the Rutgers Medical School Department of Anatomy. Rising through the ranks to professor and acting Chair before being recruited to the University of Louisville. He has published 200 papers and received over $6 million in research grants.
Related Article: The RhinoCyte Story
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