R. Anne Stetler, PhD

  • Assistant Professor

Dr. Stetler’s research interests focus on the exploration of pathways leading to neuroprotection or recovery in preclinical models of stroke (cerebral ischemia). Stemming from a background in cell death, the goal of her research is to understand how bolstering molecular pathways such as DNA repair can improve stroke outcomes. Using both pharmacological interventions as well as lifestyle modifications such as caloric restriction, her research identifies both endogenous and alternative targets for therapeutic interventions. 

Education & Training

  • PhD, University of Pittsburgh, Neuroscience
  • Post Doc, University of Pittsburgh, Neurology

Specialized Areas of Clinical, Research and/or Educational Interests 

  • Research: Stroke; DNA damage and repair; Cell death; White matter; Neuroprotection of caloric restriction
  • Education: Cell death; Stroke

Professional Organization Membership

  • American Heart Association, Stroke Council
  • International Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism
  • Society for Neuroscience

Honors & Awards

  • American Heart Postdoctoral Fellowship

Selected Recent Publications

Zhang J, Zhang W, Gao X, Zhao Y, Chen D, Xu N, Pu H, Stetler RA*, Gao Y. Preconditioning with partial caloric restriction confers long-term protection against grey and white matter injury after transient focal ischemia. Journal of Cereb Blood Flow and Metab. 2019, 39(7):1394-1409. doi: 10.1177/0271678X18785480 (*co-corresponding author)

Yu G, Zhang K, Zhao J, Johnson JQ, Bregy VM, Chen J, Gao Y, Stetler RA. Nuances in the molecular controls of gene expression underlying preconditioning against cerebral ischemia. Conditioning Medicine. 2018, 1(3):135-142. 

Stetler RA, Gao Y, Leak RK, Weng Z, Shi Y, Zhang L, Pu H, Zhang F, Hu X, Hassan S, Ferguson C, Homanics GE, Cao G, Bennett MV, Chen J. APE1/Ref1 facilitates recovery of gray and white matter and neurological function after mild stroke injury. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2016;E3558-E3567, doi:10.1073/pnas1606226113

Stetler RA, Leak RK, Gan Y, Li P, Hu X, Jing Z, Chen J, Zigmond MJ, Gao Y. Preconditioning provides neuroprotection in models of CNS disease: Paradigms and clinical significance. Progress in Neurobiology. 2014;114:58-83.

Stetler RA, Leak RK, Gao Y, Chen J. The dynamics of the mitochondrial organelle as a potential therapeutic target. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2013;33:22-32.