171 Ashley Ave.
Charleston, SC 29425
843-792-1414
800-424-MUSC
|
 |
Dr. Inderjit Singh, Scientific Director
Research pioneer:
Inderjit Singh, Ph.D.
Position: Distinguished University Professor of Pediatrics, Biochemistry and
Molecular Biology and Anatomy and Cell Biology, and Neurology
Education:
1965 B.S.(Honors) Biochemistry, Panjab University, India 1967 M.S.
(Honors) Biochemistry, Panjab University, India 1974 Ph.D. Biochemistry,
Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, U.S.A.
Years with MUSC:
19
Research emphasis:
Childhood brain diseases
Current grants:
$5.1 million, NIH and a grant from Dialysis Clinics, Inc.
As the Children's Research Institute was breaking ground,
MUSC's Dr. Inderjit Singh was breaking ground for the medical community
around the world. His years of research recently culminated in a breakthrough
discovery with the potential to impact millions of lives worldwide. The Children's
Research Institute will make more discoveries like his possible, he says.
What brought you to MUSC?
Well, that was 20 years ago. I did my post doc at Mass General, and then went to
Johns Hopkins. MUSC offered an ideal environment for a scientist like me. Dr.
Darby was chair of pediatrics at the time, and gave me the freedom to be creative
with my research. I liked the department he had created, and the school was
strong in disease-based neuroscience research. MUSC is also smaller than some of
the other top research facilities. I think that makes for a better research environment.
What drew you to the neurosciences?
The themes of my neuroscientific research are all connected through inflammatory
disease associated processes. I am primarily investigating ALD (adrenoleukodystrophy),
you may have heard about it in the movie "Lorenzo's Oil." The ALD
research helps us understand disease processes for several conditions, like multiple
sclerosis, stroke, spinal chord injury and epilspsy. My research can help many
people with various neurological problems. That makes it exciting.
You once said your research is 'high-risk, high-reward.'
What makes it risky?
People have invested their entire careers in research and not found solutions or therapies. There is so much
to understand about the multiple components of disease before we can find answers. I could work my whole
life and not find one answer, but I don't think that will happen. Any solutions I do discover could help many,
people.
Cutting edge research such as yours is already ongoing at MUSC.
Why is it necessary to build the CRI?
Science requires interaction and communication among scientists. Researchers need one place where they can
meet and discuss new ideas; new ideas mature through communication. With the CRI, the researchers here will
make more progress, faster. And they will be able train young scientists for the future.
What will the CRI bring to MUSC and its patients?
Knowledge. Real doctors learn new knowledge, teach new knowledge and practice new knowledge. Science
should be hands-on. Because of the CRI, doctors at MUSC will have access to even more new knowledge. In
turn, they will use it to care for their patients. Everyone benefits.
Your ALD research recently resulted in a ground breaking multiple sclerosis trial.
Tell us about that.
Like ALD, conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS), stroke, Alzheimer's disease and spinal cord injury are
caused by inflammation of the brain or spinal cord. We discovered a class of drugs that blocks activation of
inflammatory cells. MUSC recently directed a multi-center study on simvastatin as a treatment for the relapseremitting
form of MS. The initial results are very promising that could help many patients with MS and are
published on May 15, 2004.
You admit that doing research can be quite tedious. What motivates you to continue?
Solutions. There are solutions to many of the diseases people have to today. If we look hard enough, we will find
the solutions.
What's next?
I received a seven-year grant in 2002 from the NIH to continue my ALD research. In addition, I am also the
recipient of other NIH grants to study multiple sclerosis, stroke and epilepsy. I am also working with the MUSC
Transplant Program using anti-inflammatory drugs to improve organ preservation.
|
|
Print Version