Valerie Verge

Valerie Verge is a Professor in the Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology at the University of Saskatchewan, based at Saskatoon City Hospital. Her research program integrates molecular, cellular, and behavioral approaches to investigate nerve injury and repair mechanisms.

Her educational background includes:

• B.Sc. from Concordia University (1980)
• Ph.D. from McGill University (1990)

Professor Verge's primary research focuses on neurotrophic molecules (nerve growth factor, BDNF, neurotrophin-3) and their roles in sensory neuron maintenance, regeneration, and pain signaling. Her work examines how these factors influence cytoskeletal dynamics, neuropeptide expression, and functional recovery following nerve injury, with particular emphasis on diabetic neuropathy and neuropathic pain mechanisms. Current methodologies include electrical stimulation paradigms, transcription factor analysis, and in vivo injury models.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2008-2014) reveals consistent contributions to understanding axonal regeneration pathways, neurotrophin-receptor interactions, and glial responses to injury, with increasing focus on transcriptional regulation (e.g., CREB3, Zhangfei) in nerve repair.

Her research program demonstrates sustained productivity with continuous publications since the 1980s, though specific grant details aren't provided. Current work likely involves collaborations across neuroscience and diabetes research fields given the thematic focus of recent papers.

Professor Verge maintains active laboratory research at the hospital-affiliated university department, providing opportunities for graduate students to engage in neuroregeneration studies using multidisciplinary approaches spanning molecular biology to behavioral assessment.