Research

Research in Dr. Siddiqui's Regenerative Neuroimmunology in Neural Injury and Repair Laboratory is focused on:

• Cell-based and gene-based immunomodulation.
• Biomaterial and scaffold engineering.
• Extracellular vesicle (EV) theranostics.
• Combinatorial therapeutic strategies.
• Histologic and imaging analytics driven by artificial intelligence (AI).

The lab's work provides patients with access to innovative, mechanism-informed treatment concepts. It also gives students hands-on experience in multidisciplinary translational research at the interface of neuroscience, bioengineering and rehabilitation science.

Cell-based and gene-based immunomodulation

Inflammation after spinal cord injury is a major barrier to neural repair. The Regenerative Neuroimmunology in Neural Injury and Repair Laboratory develops targeted strategies to recalibrate the neuroinflammatory environment after spinal cord injury. These strategies combine cell therapies, cytokine-modulating constructs and localized vector-based gene delivery.

Research centers on advanced regenerative approaches that incorporate supportive cells such as Schwann cells and mesenchymal stem and stromal cells (MSCs), including adipose-derived and umbilical cord-derived MSCs. Schwann cells facilitate axon growth and remyelination, while MSCs modulate inflammation and secrete trophic factors to aid tissue repair and functional recovery in preclinical models.

The lab also employs viral gene delivery, including adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotypes, to achieve precise, sustained local expression of regenerative or immunomodulatory genes. This approach enables long-term control of pro- and anti-inflammatory pathways, creating a spinal cord microenvironment that favors regeneration over chronic degeneration.

Biomaterial and scaffold engineering

Dr. Siddiqui's lab collaborates with the Regenerative Neurobiology Laboratory of Anthony J. Windebank, M.D., to develop versatile, microstructured hydrogel scaffold platforms that guide neural regeneration after spinal cord injury.

The collaborative research team designs multichannel constructs, including 7-channel scaffolds, open-spaced and ridged architectures, and other patterned hydrogel formats. These structures provide the body with physical guidance cues for axonal growth, support Schwann cell alignment and myelination, and promote neurovascular reconstruction within injured spinal tissue. The team enhances these scaffolds with extracellular matrix proteins, tailored microarchitecture and surface functionalization to improve cell attachment and neurite outgrowth while limiting scarring.

The team designs these platforms to integrate with cellular, gene or small molecule-based therapeutics, enabling scalable and combinatorial strategies for spinal cord repair and optimizing the platforms for surgical handling and implantation.

EV theranostics

Dr. Siddiqui's laboratory is developing EV-based theranostic platforms that integrate therapy with real-time biological assessment of injury and recovery. The lab uses EVs derived from therapeutic cell sources such as MSCs and Schwann cells. Researchers engineer these EVs to promote targeted tissue repair and reduce inflammation while simultaneously tracking molecular signals associated with disease progression and therapeutic response. The theranostic EVs carry bioactive cargo that not only drive regeneration but also serve as a measurable biomarker, enabling noninvasive monitoring of treatment effectiveness over time.

This approach supports the development of safer, scalable and personalized regenerative therapies that healthcare professionals can adjust dynamically based on patient response.

Combinatorial therapeutic strategies

Injuries to the nervous system are complex, with many factors presenting many challenges to effective care. The Regenerative Neuroimmunology in Neural Injury and Repair Laboratory develops combinatorial therapeutic approaches that address these challenges. Dr. Siddiqui's research team leverages scaffold-guided axon growth, neurotrophic support and stimulation-induced plasticity to overcome inhibitory injury environments and enhance structural and functional repair. The lab coordinates multiple interventions over time to overcome the limitations of single therapy approaches and achieving more durable outcomes. These interventions simultaneously target:

• Inflammation.
• Tissue repair.
• Neural plasticity.
• Functional recovery.

The team emphasizes translational design, with strategies optimized for safety, scalability and clinical relevance.

AI-driven histologic and imaging analytics

The laboratory integrates machine learning, computer vision and high throughput imaging analytics to accelerate and strengthen the rigor of preclinical spinal cord injury research. By applying advanced AI driven histologic and imaging analysis, the lab automates unbiased, scalable quantification of tissue regeneration, cellular dynamics and therapeutic outcomes that would be difficult or inconsistent if assessed manually.

AI tools reduce variability and increase reproducibility across large datasets. These computational tools also enable detailed analysis of micrographs and other complex imaging modalities by extracting features and patterns of recovery and regeneration. This work improves the objectivity and scalability of preclinical evaluations while providing data driven insights into healing mechanisms and personalized therapeutic strategies at the intersection of neuroscience and computational science.