معرفی
Sandra Rieger is an Associate Professor at the University of Miami's College of Arts and Sciences with research bridging basic science and medical applications. Her work has significant connections to the Miller School of Medicine through the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and University of Miami Health System.
Dr. Rieger's research focuses on mechanisms leading to peripheral neuropathy, particularly those induced by chemotherapy or diabetes. Her laboratory discovered that chemotherapeutic agents like paclitaxel and high glucose levels increase hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) formation in epidermal keratinocytes. This elevated H2O2 activates the matrix-degrading metalloproteinase MMP-13, which induces cell adhesion defects and degeneration of unmyelinated sensory axons. Her work further demonstrated that pharmacological inhibition of MMP-13 prevents paclitaxel and glucose neurotoxicity in rodent models, suggesting potential therapeutic applications for human patients. Current research focuses on identifying how paclitaxel induces H2O2 production and elucidating MMP-13's precise role in axon degeneration.
Dr. Rieger leads the Rieger Lab specializing in neural-epithelial interactions research. Her findings have important implications for developing treatments for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and diabetic neuropathy, conditions affecting millions of patients worldwide. She maintains active research collaborations across the University of Miami system, working toward translating basic science discoveries into clinical applications.
