Gene Expression Profiling

Through gene expression profiling, researchers are working to find ways to monitor brain health and predict future strokes, aneurysms, and hemorrhages.

Stroke is the third leading cause of death behind heart disease and cancer and the leading neurologic cause of long-term disability. Minor strokes can go unnoticed for years before a major event causes disability or death. That’s why UC Davis Department of Neurology faculty members are working to find ways to monitor brain health and predict future life-threatening incidents — such as stroke, aneurism or hemorrhage — using simple blood tests.

Using the latest microarray technology, researchers are creating gene expression profiles of people who have suffered strokes and other cerebrovascular disorders and comparing those to the gene expression profiles of healthy subjects and those who have suffered other cardiovascular events. They believe finding gene activity that has been altered by strokes and brain injury will point them to potential drug targets and treatments.