Rafael Galindo, MD, PhD

Rafael Galindo, MD, PhD, is an assistant professor of neurology in the Division of Pediatric & Developmental Neurology at Washington University School of Medicine. He earned his bachelors, medical, and doctoral degrees at the University of New Mexico. Further medical training included residencies in pediatrics and in pediatric neurology, both at Washington University School of Medicine/Barnes-Jewish Hospital/St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Galindo accomplished a clinical and doctoral research fellowship in neonatal neurology at Washington University/St. Louis Children’s Hospital. He is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Academy of Neurology, the Society for Neuroscience, the Child Neurology Society, and the American Neurological Association. He is part of the medical staff at both Barnes-Jewish Hospital and St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

The focus of his neuroscientific research involves exploring novel neuroprotective strategies and understanding neurobiological mechanisms that regulate neuronal survival and death in the injured neonatal brain. Specifically, he is examining the role and associated cellular mechanisms of Nicotinamide Mononucleotide Adenylyltransferases (NMNATs), sterile alpha- and armadillo-motif-containing protein (SARM) and human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) in maintaining neuronal survival of injured developing neurons. Research in newborn neurology offers great opportunities for uncovering new neurobiological strategies and knowledge that can be reciprocally translated between bench and bedside. In addition, the consequences that develop from neonatal brain injury are vast and form a relatively large part of the pediatric patient population. Understanding the role of molecules like NMNATs, SARM and hCG on the survival of injured immature neurons may offer new potential agents and/or cellular targets for the effective treatment and prevention of the immediate and long-term neurological consequences that affect neonates exposed to birth asphyxia.

Another part of Galindo’s research effort is aimed at developing new function-based animal models for the systematic evaluation of the neurological comorbidities associated with neonatal cerebral injury. To this end, his team is developing new technologies and methods for evaluating cortical network connectivity and seizures during and/or following neonatal HI.

Galindo is a guest editor for Frontiers in Pediatrics and provides reviews for Pediatric Research–Nature Research Journal.