The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy is pleased to welcome our newest Member of the Board of Directors, Kristy Townsend, Ph.D., effective June 1, 2021.
Kristy Townsend holds a Ph.D. in Neuroscience and has been investigating the brain and nervous system in the regulation of energy balance and metabolism for the past 20 years. Townsend is now Associate Professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery at The Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center. Research in the Townsend Lab for Neurobiology & Energy Balance at The Ohio State University focuses on neural plasticity (or, remodeling and regeneration) and how the brain and nervous system impact appetite, metabolism, and energy expenditure (or, calorie burning).
Townsend is involved in neuropathy research in three ways:
- The laboratory investigates how nerve endings can die back into the adipose tissue (or, fat tissue) under the skin in conditions of small fiber neuropathy and how this impacts metabolic health;
- The laboratory researches mechanisms of neuropathy and potential treatments in cases of diabetes or aging;
- Townsend and colleagues are working on a medical device for the functional diagnosis of small fiber neuropathy through an academic spin-out company called Neuright, Inc.
Please join us in welcoming Kristy Townsend to our team!