David Sretavan

Professor in Residence, Ophthalmology and Physiology Core Member, UCB/UCSF Graduate Group in Bioengineering Koret Research Building, K107 mailcode: 730 (415) 476-0840 fax: (415) 476-6289 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it http://www.ucsf.edu/sretavan/ Membership effective July 2005

Research Interests

Development of novel micro and nanotechnology platforms for neural repair.

Research Summary

Nerve injury is a cause of significant disability that has serious social and economic impact for society. The long thin axonal extensions of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, when damaged, are not capable of regeneration to reconsitutute neural function. We are exploring a novel paradigm using micron-scaled devices with nanoscale functional features, to surgically repair individual damaged axons. Devices under development include a self-actuated nanocutting device that is highly effective in isolating small biological tissues such as axons at the micron length scale, as well as micro and nanofabricated addressable electrode arrays for the precise non-contact and programmable manipulation of axonal extensions. Substantial effort is also underway to integrate multiple capabilities required for axon surgery onto a single semi-robotic device 1 mm2 or less in size. Additional areas of interest include optical systems suitable for on-board microdevice use, and user interfaces that will allow efficient scaling of surgical operations from the macro into the micro world. Our overall goal is to develop a suite of novel surgical tools that will address an unmet medical need by enabling human operation and repair at the micron length scale of axons.

Selected Publications

Deiner, M., Kennedy, T., Fazeli, A., Serafini, T., Tessier-Lavigne, M., D.W. Sretavan (1997) Netrin-1 and DCC Mediate Axon Guidance Locally At The Optic Disc: Loss of Function Leads to Optic Nerve Hypoplasia. Neuron 19: 575-589.

Birgbauer, E., S. Oster, C. Severin, and D. Sretavan (2001) Retinal axon growth cones respond to EphB extracellular domains as inhibitory axon guidance cues. Development 128 : 3041-3048.

Oster, S.F., M. Bodeker, F. He, and D. Sretavan (2003). Invariant Sema5A Inhibition Serves An Ensheathing Function During Optic Nerve Development . Development 130: 775-784.

Sretavan, D. Chang, W., Keller, C. Kliot, M. (2005) Microscale Surgery On Single Axons. Neurosurgery 57: 635-646.

Liu, X., Hawkes, E., Ishimaru, T., Tran, T., Sretavan, D. (2006) EphB3: An Endogenous Mediator of Adult Axon Plasticity After CNS Injury. J. Neurosci. 26: 3087-3101.