Michigan State University · EngineeringSpence Lab
Dana M Spence · East Lansing, Michigan
Research Focus
Dr. Dana Spence's research lab at Michigan State University focuses on understanding Multiple Sclerosis (MS) by examining how interactions between immune cells and the blood-brain barrier affect the disease. The lab develops innovative 3D tissue models and imaging techniques to study the role of hypermetabolic red blood cells and matrix metalloproteinases in MS pathology. This research may contribute to better diagnostic tools and therapies for this condition.
Multiple Sclerosisblood-brain barrierneurovascular unithypermetabolic red blood cellsmatrix metalloproteinases
Research Aims
4AIM 01Investigate the role of hypermetabolic red blood cells in Multiple Sclerosis pathogenesis.
AIM 02Develop a 3D neurovascular unit model to study barrier permeability.
AIM 03Analyze the effects of matrix metalloproteinase-9 on myelin degeneration.
AIM 04Evaluate the impact of interferon-beta therapy on blood-brain barrier integrity.
Skills the Lab Values
microfluidic device fabrication3D tissue modelingtissue culturescanning ion conductance microscopytransendothelial electrical resistance measurementsin vivo imagingclinical research methodologiesdata analysis using Python
Output against the department
Publications112bottom 24% of dept.210th of 278
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations5.5kbottom 41% of dept.163rd of 278
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.