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Ruxandra F. Sîrbulescu, PhD

Principal Investigator

The Sîrbulescu Laboratory is interested in developing novel cell-based (immuno)therapies for the treatment of nervous system injuries and chronic wounds, as well as in understanding the mechanisms that underlie the capacity of certain cells to initiate and accelerate tissue healing.

A key area of interest in our group is the non-canonical use of mature B lymphocytes as a novel cell-based immunomodulatory therapeutic strategy that can effectively enhance the progression of tissue repair in multiple contexts, including traumatic brain injury, stroke, and neurodegenerative disease.

In parallel, we are developing novel assays for the characterization of the molecular microenvironment of injured and regenerating tissues. Current collaborative efforts in the context of wound healing focus on developing a prognostic assay based on a combination of mass spectrometry imaging and imaging mass cytometry, that can be used to distinguish molecular signatures characteristic of wounds with good and poor healing prognosis and identify molecular profiles associated with response to treatment.

Dr. Sîrbulescu’s research is supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), industry partnerships, as well as philanthropic research support from donors to the Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center.

Dr. Sîrbulescu’s innovative research has been recognized through multiple publications, media articles, patents, and distinctions, including the Melvin Field Innovation Award, and several Excellence in Innovation certificates from Partners Healthcare.

Prior Experience

Dr. Sîrbulescu received a Fellowship from the Ernst A.C. Lange Foundation to conduct her PhD in Cell Biology and Neuroscience at Jacobs University in Germany, working on models of central nervous system injury and repair. During a postdoctoral program in Neurobiology at Northeastern University in Boston, Dr. Sîrbulescu continued her work on mechanisms of central nervous system development, injury, and regeneration, and trained in multiple imaging modalities, including mass spectrometry imaging techniques.

Outside of VIC

Dr. Sîrbulescu is a member of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) of Massachusetts General Hospital.

Academic Credentials