Education

• Professor of Neurology
• BVMS 1971, Glasgow University
• PhD 1975, Glasgow University, FRCVS, FRCPath, FRSE

Research

Our research is aimed at repairing the central nervous system in people with myelin disorders. While our major target is multiple sclerosis (MS), we also are devising strategies for myelin repair in the inherited childhood disorders, particularly Krabbe’s disease and Pelizaeus Merzbacher disease. We are attempting to identify and isolate in large numbers, myelinating cells from human embryonic or neural stem cells. We then test the myelinating capacities of these cells by transplanting them into animal models of human disease. These models either are mutants with disorders in myelin or myelin-related genes, or experimental immune mediated demyelinating disease. While much of our work involves the focal implantation of cells, we are also trying to devise methods of cell dissemination throughout the CNS. In Krabbe’s disease, we are exploring enzyme replacement in this lysosomal storage disease by transducing transplanted cells to overexpress the gene for galactocerebrosidase using lentiviral approaches.

Visit the Duncan Lab Website.

Responsibilities

Neurology

Recent Publications

His36Pro point-mutated proteolipid protein retained in the endoplasmic reticulum of oligodendrocytes in the shaking pup. Song J, Goetz BD, Duncan ID. Glia, 2006 53(3), 257-265.

Galactocerebrosidase-deficient oligodendrocytes maintain stable central myelin by exogenous replacement of the missing enzyme in mice. Kondo Y, Wenger DA, Duncan ID. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., 2005, 102, 18670-18675.

Canine spongiform leukoencephalomyelopathy is associated with a missense mutation in cytochrome b. Li F-Y, Cuddon PA, Song J, Wood SL, Patterson JS, Shelton GD, Duncan ID. Neurobiol. Dis., 2006 21, 35-42.

Minocycline attenuates inhibitory effects on multiple mitogen-activated protein kinases and IкBα degradation in a stimulus-specific manner in microglia. Nikodemova M, Duncan ID, Watters JJ. J.Neurochem., 2006, 96(2), 314-323.

High b-value q-space diffusion MRI in myelin-deficient rat spinal cords. Biton IE, Duncan ID, Cohen,Y. Mag. Res. Imag., 2006, 24(2), 161-166.

Myelin water fraction in human cervical spinal cord in vivo. Wu Y, Alexander AL, Fleming JO, Duncan ID, Field AS. J. Comp. Assist. Tomog., 2006, 30, 304-306.

Minocycline down-regulates MHC II expression in microglia through inhibition of IRF-1 and PKC Nikodemova M., Watters J, Jackson S., Yang S., Duncan ID. J. Biol. Chem, 2007, 282 (20), 15208-15216.

q-Space Diffusion of Myelin-Deficient Spinal Cords. Biton IE, Duncan, ID, Cohen Y. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. 2007 58, 993-1000.

Myelin, diffusion time and apparent diffusion anisotropy in the CNS: Time dependent q-space diffusion spectroscopy and imaging of myelin deficient rat spinal cords, Biton IE, Duncan ID, Cohen Y. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, 2007.

Replacing cells in multiple sclerosis. Duncan ID. J. Neurol Sci., 2008 265, 89-92.

Stem cell therapy in multiple sclerosis: Promise and controversy. Duncan ID, Goldman S, Macklin WB, Rao M, Weiner LP, Reingold SC. Multiple Sclerosis Journal, 2008 14, 541-546.

Generation of cultured oligodendrocyte progenitors from rat neonatal brains. Larsen EC, Kondo Y, Fahrenholtz CD, Duncan, ID. Curr. Protoc. Stem Cell Biol. 2008 Aug; Chapter 2:Unit 2D.1.1-2D.1.13.

Qualification of myelin and axon pathology during relapsing progressive experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in the Biozzi ABH mouse. Jackson, SJ, JangEun L, Nikodemova M, Fabry Z, Duncan ID. J. Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol. (In Press 2008)

Selective reduction in microglia density and function in the white matter of colony stimulating factor-1 deficient mice. Kondo Y and Duncan ID. J. Neurosci. Res.  In Press.

Extensive remyelination of the CNS leads to functional recovery. Duncan ID, Brower A, Kondo Y, Curlee Jr. J, Schultz R. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (in press 2009).