Christoph Proschel

Christoph Proschel, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Biomedical Genetics at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. His research focuses on astrocyte development and function in normal and pathological conditions, with particular emphasis on their role in CNS repair following injury or neurodegenerative disease.

• Ph.D. in Molecular & Cellular Biology, 1995 (LICR University College)
• M.Sc. in Immunology, 1990 (Julius-Maximillian University)
• B.S. in Biology, 1986 (Julius-Maximillian University)

Dr. Proschel's research explores:

• Astrocyte heterogeneity and functional properties in injury repair
• Vanishing White Matter leukodystrophy mechanisms
• Glial precursor cell transplantation therapies
• RNA processing in neural development
• Redox regulation of stem/progenitor cell function

His recent publications emphasize:

• 2022: Herpesvirus interactions with neural cells and AKT/NMD pathway regulation
• 2021: NMD defects in fragile X syndrome and transglutaminase inhibition for spinal repair
• 2020: C1q multifunctionality in CNS biology
• 2016-2014: Astrocyte-based therapies for Parkinson's and spinal cord injury

Scientific awards include:

• 1995 EMBO Practical Course training
• 1986-1987 University Würzburg scholarship

Dr. Proschel leads the Pröschel Lab, developing human iPSC-based disease models for leukodystrophies and neurodegenerative disorders through collaborations with Harvard and Rochester's cGMP facility. Current projects include Multimodal Precursor-derived AstroCyte Therapy (MPACT) for CNS repair.