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Bruce Trapp Laboratory

❮Neurosciences Bruce Trapp Laboratory
  • Bruce Trapp Laboratory
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Principal Investigator

Bruce Trapp Headshot

Bruce Trapp, PhD

Department Chair
The Morris R. and Ruth V. Graham Endowed Chair in Biomedical Research - Professor, Molecular Medicine, CCLCM-CWRU
Email: [email protected]
Location: Cleveland Clinic Main Campus

Research

Our research aims are to obtain a better understanding of cellular/molecular events involved in glial cell development and myelin formation in the central and peripheral nervous systems (CNS and PNS) and to understand how myelin, myelin-forming cells, and axons are destroyed in autoimmune and inherited diseases of myelin.


Biography

Bruce D. Trapp, PhD, is Chair of the Department of Neurosciences at the Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic and Professor of Neurosciences at Case Western Reserve University and The Ohio State University.

Dr. Trapp received his Ph.D. from the Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago, IL. He received postdoctoral training at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD. Following his tenure at the NIH, Dr. Trapp became an Assistant Professor and subsequently an Associate Professor of Neurology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD. He joined the Cleveland Clinic as Chair of the Department of Neurosciences in 1994.

Dr. Trapp is the recipient of the Jordi Folch-Pi Award from the American Society of Neurochemistry, The Weil Award from the American Association of Neuropathologists, the Harry Weaver Neuroscience Scholar Award from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS), the Jacob Javits Award in Neuroscience from NINDS, the John Dystel Prize for MS Research from the American Academy of Neurology/NMSS, the Stephen C. Reingold Research Award from the NMSS, the Scientific Achievement Award in Basic Science and the Award for Excellence in Science from the Cleveland Clinic, and he is a member of the NMSS Volunteer Hall of Fame for Scientific Researchers. He is also a Fellow of the AAAS.

Dr. Trapp holds numerous multi-year grants from various funding institutions, including NINDS and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the NMSS, and the State of Ohio. His research investigates the cause of neurological disability in multiple sclerosis patients, cellular mechanisms of brain repair in neurodegenerative diseases, the molecular biology of myelination in the central and peripheral nervous systems, and mechanisms of glial neuroprotection. He is internationally known for his work on mechanisms of neurodegeneration and repair in multiple sclerosis and has published over 230 peer-reviewed articles and over 40 book chapters. 


Education & Professional Highlights

Appointed
1994

Education & Fellowships

Medical Education - Loyola University
Chicago, IL USA
1977

Undergraduate - Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL USA
1972

Research

Research

 

New data about the normal functioning of myelin-forming cells and myelin-axon interactions will help us understand the pathogenic mechanisms involved in permanent neurological disability in human diseases of myelin.

Cellular/Molecular Biology of Myelination: Our aim is to obtain a better understanding of cellular/molecular events that regulate production and differentiation of oligodendrocytes and CNS myelination. Using transgenic mice, we study the role of myelin and myelin proteins in maintaining axonal function and survival. We also investigate the role of CNS progenitor cells as a source of new oligodendrocytes in the adult brain. 

Pathogenesis of Neurological Disability in Multiple Sclerosis (MS): In these studies, we seek to determine the causes of MS, an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the CNS, and to therapeutically prevent irreversible neurological disability in MS patients. Historically, it has been assumed that axons were spared most of the pathological consequences of inflammatory demyelination. We have described axonal degeneration during demyelination and as a result of chronic demyelination. We also focus on neuronal degeneration and axonal pathology in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of MS patients. Recent studies also focus on the therapeutic potential of progenitor cells to repair demyelinated or dysmyelinated brain.

Our Team

Our Team

Publications

Selected Publications

View publications for Bruce Trapp, PhD
(Disclaimer: This search is powered by PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. PubMed is a third-party website with no affiliation with Cleveland Clinic.)


Singh V, Zheng Y, Ontaneda D, Mahajan KR, Holloman J, Fox RJ, Nakamura K, Trapp BD. (2024) Disability independent of cerebral white matter demyelination in progressive multiple sclerosis. Acta Neuropathol. Aug 31;148(1):34. PMID: 39217272; PMCID: PMC11365858

Chomyk A, Kucinski R, Kim J, Christie E, Cyncynatus K, Gossman Z, Chen Z, Richardson B, Cameron M, Turner T, Dutta R, Trapp B. (2024) Transcript Profiles of Microglia/Macrophage Cells at the Borders of Chronic Active and Subpial Gray Matter Lesions in Multiple Sclerosis. Ann Neurol. May;95(5):907-916. PMID: 38345145; PMCID: PMC11060930

Chen Z, Hu W, Mendez MJ, Gossman ZC, Chomyk A, Boylan BT, Kidd GJ, Phares TW, Bergmann CC, Trapp BD. (2023) Neuroprotection by Preconditioning in Mice is Dependent on MyD88-Mediated CXCL10 Expression in Endothelial Cells. ASN Neuro. 15:17590914221146365. PMID: 36591943; PMCID: PMC9810995   

Xiong L, McCoy M, Komuro H, West XZ, Yakubenko V, Gao D, Dudiki T, Milo A, Chen J, Podrez EA, Trapp B, Byzova TV.(2022) Inflammation-dependent oxidative stress metabolites as a hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Free Radic Biol Med. 178:125-133. PMID: 34871763; PMCID: PMC8744315

Zheng Y, Dudman J, Chen JT, Mahajan KR, Herman D, Fox RJ, Ontaneda D, Trapp BD, Nakamura K. (2022)  Sensitivity of T1/T2-weighted ratio in detection of cortical demyelination is similar to magnetization transfer ratio using post-mortem MRI. Mult Scler. 28(2):198-205. PMID: 34014144; PMCID: PMC8605037

Mahajan KR, Amin M, Poturalski M, Lee J, Herman D, Zheng Y, Androjna C, Howell M, Fox RJ, Trapp BD, Jones SE, Nakamura K, Ontaneda D. (2021) Juxtacortical susceptibility changes in progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy at the gray-white matter junction correlates with iron-enriched macrophages. Mult Scler. 2021 Mar 22:1352458521999651. PMID: 33749379

Baltan S, Jawaid SS, Chomyk AM, Kidd GJ, Chen J, Battapady HD, Chan R, Dutta R, Trapp BD. (2021) Neuronal hibernation following hippocampal demyelination. Acta Neuropathol Commun. 9(1):34. PMID: 33648591; PMCID: PMC7923530

Licht-Mayer S, Campbell GR, Canizares M, Mehta AR, Gane AB, McGill K, Ghosh A, Fullerton A, Menezes N, Dean J, Dunham J, Al-Azki S, Pryce G, Zandee S, Zhao C, Kipp M, Smith KJ, Baker D, Altmann D, Anderton SM, Kap YS, Laman JD, Hart BA', Rodriguez M, Watzlawick R, Schwab JM, Carter R, Morton N, Zagnoni M, Franklin RJM, Mitchell R, Fleetwood-Walker S, Lyons DA, Chandran S, Lassmann H, Trapp BD, Mahad DJ. (2020) Enhanced axonal response of mitochondria to demyelination offers neuroprotection: implications for multiple sclerosis. Acta Neuropathol. 140(2):143-167. PMID: 32572598; PMCID: PMC7360646

Absinta M, Lassmann H, Trapp BD. (2020) Mechanisms underlying progression in multiple sclerosis. Curr Opin Neurol. 33(3):277-285. PMID: 32324705; PMCID: PMC7337978

Mahajan KR, Nakamura K, Cohen JA, Trapp BD, Ontaneda D. (2020) Intrinsic and Extrinsic Mechanisms of Thalamic Pathology in Multiple Sclerosis. Ann Neurol. 88(1):81-92. PMID: 32286701

Nakamura K, Rudick RA, Ontaneda D, Fox RJ, Trapp BD, Fisher E. (2020) Fourteen-year serial MRIs of patients with mild and severe courses of MS. Neurol Clin Pract. 10(1):e5-e6. PMID: 32190426; PMCID: PMC7057063

Das A, Bastian C, Trestan L, Suh J, Dey T, Trapp BD, Baltan S, Dana H. (2020) Reversible Loss of Hippocampal Function in a Mouse Model of Demyelination/Remyelination. Front Cell Neurosci. 13:588. PMID: 32038176; PMCID: PMC6987410

Zhang H, Kim Y, Ro EJ, Ho C, Lee D, Trapp BD, Suh H. (2020) Hippocampal Neurogenesis and Neural Circuit Formation in a Cuprizone-Induced Multiple Sclerosis Mouse Model. J Neurosci. 40(2):447-458. PMID: 31719166; PMCID: PMC6948946

Tripathi A, Volsko C, Garcia JP, Agirre E, Allan KC, Tesar PJ, Trapp BD, Castelo-Branco G, Sim FJ, Dutta R. (2019) Oligodendrocyte Intrinsic miR-27a Controls Myelination and Remyelination. Cell Rep. 29(4):904-919.e9. PMID: 31644912; PMCID: PMC6874400

Dutta R, Mahajan KR, Nakamura K, Ontaneda D, Chen J, Volsko C, Dudman J, Christie E, Dunham J, Fox RJ, Trapp BD. (2019) Comprehensive Autopsy Program for Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis. J Vis Exp. 2019 Jul 19;(149). PMID: 31380830

Davalos D, Mahajan KR, Trapp BD. (2019) Brain fibrinogen deposition plays a key role in MS pathophysiology - Yes. Mult Scler. 25(11):1434-1435. PMID: 31315512; PMCID: PMC6750992

Trapp BD, Ontaneda D. (2018) Identifying a new subtype of multiple sclerosis. Neurodegener Dis Manag. 8(6):367-369. PMID: 30215581

Trapp BD, Vignos M, Dudman J, Chang A, Fisher E, Staugaitis SM, Battapady H, Mork S, Ontaneda D, Jones SE, Fox RJ, Chen J, Nakamura K, Rudick RA. (2018) Cortical neuronal densities and cerebral white matter demyelination in multiple sclerosis: a retrospective study. Lancet Neurol. 17(10):870-884. PMID: 30143361; PMCID: PMC6197820

Dutta R, Trapp BD. (2018) Much, if not all, of the cortical damage in MS can be attributed to the microglial cell - No. Mult Scler. 24(7):897-899. PMID: 29754529; PMCID: PMC5995597

Koenig KA, Rao SM, Lowe MJ, Lin J, Sakaie KE, Stone L, Bermel RA, Trapp BD, Phillips MD. (2018) The role of the thalamus and hippocampus in episodic memory performance in patients with multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler. 25(4):574-584. PMID: 29512427; PMCID: PMC6119546

He X, Zhang L, Queme LF, Liu X, Lu A, Waclaw RR, Dong X, Zhou W, Kidd G, Yoon SO, Buonanno A, Rubin JB, Xin M, Nave KA, Trapp BD, Jankowski MP, Lu QR. (2018) A histone deacetylase 3-dependent pathway delimits peripheral myelin growth and functional regeneration. Nat Med. 24(3):338-351. PMID: 29431744; PMCID: PMC5908710

Chen J, Kostenko V, Pioro EP, Trapp BD. (2018) MR Imaging-based Estimation of Upper Motor Neuron Density in Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Feasibility Study. Radiology 287(3):955-964. PMID: 29361242; PMCID: PMC5978454

Jawaid S, Kidd GJ, Wang J, Swetlik C, Dutta R, Trapp BD. (2018) Alterations in CA1 hippocampal synapses in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome. Glia 66(4):789-800. PMID: 29274095; PMCID: PMC5812820

Nakamura K, Chen JT, Ontaneda D, Fox RJ, Trapp BD. (2017) T1-/T2-weighted ratio differs in demyelinated cortex in multiple sclerosis. Ann Neurol. 82(4):635-639. PMID: 28833377

Chomyk AM, Volsko C, Tripathi A, Deckard SA, Trapp BD, Fox RJ, Dutta R. (2017) DNA methylation in demyelinated multiple sclerosis hippocampus. Sci Rep. 7(1):8696. PMID: 28821749; PMCID: PMC5562763

Yin X, Kidd GJ, Ohno N, Perkins GA, Ellisman MH, Bastian C, Brunet S, Baltan S, Trapp BD. (2016) Proteolipid protein-deficient myelin promotes axonal mitochondrial dysfunction via altered metabolic coupling. J Cell Biol. 215(4):531-542. PMID: 27872255; PMCID: PMC5119941

Bai CB, Sun S, Roholt A, Benson E, Edberg D, Medicetty S, Dutta R, Kidd G, Macklin WB, Trapp B. (2016) A mouse model for testing remyelinating therapies. Exp Neurol. 283(Pt A):330-340. PMID: 27384502; PMCID: PMC5207347

Chen Z, Chen JT, Johnson M, Gossman ZC, Hendrickson M, Sakaie K, Martinez-Rubio C, Gale JT, Trapp BD. (2015) Cuprizone does not induce CNS demyelination in nonhuman primates. Ann Clin Transl Neurol. 2:208-13. PMID: 25750925; PMCID: PMC4338961

Mahad DH, Trapp BD, Lassmann H. (2015) Pathological mechanisms in progressive multiple sclerosis. Lancet Neurol. 14:183-93. PMID: 25772897

Yin X, Kiryu-Seo S, Kidd GJ, Feltri ML, Wrabetz L, Trapp BD. (2015) Proteolipid protein cannot replace P0 protein as the major structural protein of peripheral nervous system myelin. Glia 63:66-77. PMID: 25066805; PMCID: PMC4237650

Chiang H, Ohno N, Hsieh YL, Mahad DJ, Kikuchi S, Komuro H, Hsieh ST, Trapp BD. (2015) Mitochondrial fission augments capsaicin-induced axonal degeneration. Acta Neuropathol. 129:81-96. PMID: 25322817; PMCID: PMC4282704

Chen Z, Jalabi W, Hu W, Park HJ, Gale JT, Kidd GJ, Bernatowicz R, Gossman ZC, Chen JT, Dutta R, Trapp BD. (2014) Microglial displacement of inhibitory synapses provides neuroprotection in the adult brain. Nat Commun. 22:4486-97. PMID: 25047355; PMCID: PMC4109015

Ohno N, Chiang H, Mahad DJ, Kidd GJ, Liu L, Ransohoff RM, Sheng ZH, Komuro H, Trapp BD. (2014) Mitochondrial immobilization mediated by syntaphilin facilitates survival of demyelinated axons. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 111:9953-58. PMID: 24958879; PMCID: PMC4103317

Dutta R, Trapp BD. (2014) Relapsing and progressive forms of multiple sclerosis: insights from pathology. Curr Opin Neurol. 27:271-78. PMID: 24722325; PMCID: PMC4132635

Huynh JL, Garg P, Thin TH, Yoo S, Dutta R, Trapp BD, Haroutunian V, Zhu J, Donovan MJ, Sharp AJ, Casaccia P. (2014) Epigenome-wide differences in pathology-free regions of multiple sclerosis-affected brains. Nat Neurosci. 17:121-30. PMID: 24270187; PMCID: PMC3934491

Patents

Patents

US Patent Patent Title Issue Date First-Named Inventor
8,383,098 Multipotent neural stem cells 02/26/2013 Bruce Trapp
7,803,364 Multipotent neural stem cells 09/28/2010 Bruce Trapp

Careers

Careers

Training at Lerner Research Institute

Our education and training programs offer hands-on experience at one of the nationʼs top hospitals. Travel, publish in high impact journals and collaborate with investigators to solve real-world biomedical research questions.

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Research News

Research News

...
Scarcity of white matter demyelination in MS patients now detectable in MRIs, supporting future of MS research

MRI classifier identifies a subset of MS patients marked by global cortical atrophy, not demyelination.



...
Pioneering study determines roles for microglia at lesions' edge in progressive MS

Cleveland Clinic team publishes insights on microglia, inflammation in different parts of the central nervous system as a foundation for future treatments.



...
Cleveland Clinic Researchers Discover Novel Subtype of Multiple Sclerosis

Dr. Bruce Trapp, PhD, identified for the first time a subtype of the disease that features neuronal loss but no demyelination of the brain's white matter



...
Faulty Nerve Connections Responsible for Leading Inherited Cause of Autism Spectrum Disorders

The researchers used three-dimensional (3D) electron microscopy to visualize and characterize neurons, focusing their research in the hippocampus.



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