Dr. Steinberg's laboratory is interested in elucidating the pathophysiology of acute cerebral ischemia and in developing neuroprotective treatments, as well as methods to restore neurologic function after stroke. Using rodent wild type, knock out and transgenic models of focal and global ischemia, they are investigating the physiologic processes leading from decreased blood flow after arterial occlusion to irreversible brain injury. A major focus of their work concerns the role of oxidative stress, inflammation and gene expression on necrotic and apoptotic mechnisms of ischemic cell death. Alterations in cerebral blood flow, neuronal metabolic activity, electrophysiology, and gene/protein expression are examined in relation to neurologic behavior. They are also studying the brain microenvironment during recovery after stroke and the effects of stem cell transplantation and enhanced neurogenesis in promoting recovery of function.