Expertise
My research primarily investigates the molecular mechanisms that contribute to regeneration failure following traumatic injuries to the nervous system. In the adult mammalian central nervous system (CNS), neurons are unable to regenerate across lesion sites, leading to irreversible and permanent functional deficits, as seen in conditions such as spinal cord injury and traumatic optic neuropathy. While adult neurons in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) retain some ability to regenerate after axotomy, the rate of axon regeneration is slow. As a result, patients with proximal nerve injuries (e.g., brachial plexus nerve injury), often experience incomplete motor functional recovery.
Our research has made significant contributions to the fields of neuroscience and regenerative medicine, uncovering novel therapeutic strategies to promote functional recovery following traumatic brain injury and ischaemic stroke (Au et al., Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 2024). We identified formin-2 (Fmn2) and AP4 as novel regulators of axon regeneration, where manipulating these genes enhanced in vivo axonal regrowth in both PNS and CNS (Au et al., Neuron, 2023; Science Advances, 2025). Furthermore, we discovered several small molecules (M1, glycopyrrolate and mexiletine) that promote long-distance axon regeneration, leading to substantial restoration of visual function (Au et al., PNAS, 2022; Au et al., npj Regenerative Medicine, 2022). These findings have not only been published in leading scientific journals but have also received international media coverage, including features on platforms such as ScienceDaily, News Medical, and Neuroscience News.