Dr. Creed Stary is interested in finding new strategies to promote neuronal survival and improve functional outcome following injury to the brain. The brain consists of several different cell types, the most abundant of which are astrocytes, specialized glial cells that play a vital role in regulating neuronal function and homeostasis. Dr. Stary's current area of focus is utilizing microRNA's to simultaneously target multiple pathways which regulate cell survival in both neurons and astrocytes in order to minimize the degree of cell death subsequent to noxious stimuli, such as ischemia-reperfusion injury.