The Hendry Lab

The Inspiration and Scope of Our Research

Peripheral nerve injury is an increasingly impactful clinical problem that significantly impairs quality of life, function and return to work in our society. Peripheral nerve injuries include many mechanisms such as traction, crush, laceration, demyelinating conditions among other. When a peripheral nerve or brachial plexus injury occurs, patients may notice a variety of symptoms including paralysis, altered sensation and pain that prevents normal function of the limb.

Research Overview

Peripheral nerve injuries can be devastating to the individuals who suffer from them. Fortunately, peripheral nerves have the inherent ability to regenerate and restore power or sensation to the denervated region of the extremity. However, this capacity to regenerate is limited by numerous factors and recovery is often incomplete, leaving patients with permanent motor or sensory deficits.

Our lab focuses on strategies to overcome these antagonistic factors that limit peripheral nerve regeneration.

One area of our research examines the basic science behind the evolving field of peripheral nerve transfers.

This surgical technique involves re-routing expendable and healthy “donor” peripheral nerves by dividing them and repairing them to injured or denervated “recipient” nerves. This microsurgical technique provides a source new nerve fibers that can restore the absent critical function.

Another area of our research examines the molecular biology and genetics that regulate the process of peripheral nerve regeneration. We seek to better understand the key molecular processes within the growth supportive environment of the regenerating nerve. Identifying these key components can help devise new treatments to accelerate regenerating nerve fibre outgrowth and increase the number of nerve fibres reaching their intended targets.

Lab Members

Publications

Managing Phantom Limb Pain in Ontario
Managing Phantom Limb Pain in Ontario
Létourneau SG, Hendry JM. Managing Neuroma and Phantom Limb Pain in Ontario: The Status of Targeted Muscle Reinnervation. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2020 Dec 21;8(12):e3287.
Neurofilament histomorphometry comparison
Neurofilament histomorphometry comparison
Hendry, JM, Alvarez-Veronesi MC, Chang CD, Gordon T, Borschel GH. 2019. Neurofilament-histomorphometry comparison in the evaluation of unmyelinated axon regeneration following peripheral nerve injury: an alternative to electron microscopy. J Neurosci Methods 320: 37-43.
Cross Facial Nerve Grafting
Cross Facial Nerve Grafting
Placheta, E., Wood MD, Lafontaine C, Liu E, Hendry JM, Angelov D, Frey M, Gordon T, Borschel GH. 2015. Enhancement of facial nerve motoneuron regeneration through cross-face nerve grafts by adding end-to-side sensory axons. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 135: 460-471.
Herceptin enhances nerve regeneration following acute and chronic denervation
Herceptin enhances nerve regeneration following acute and chronic denervation
Hendry, JM, Alvarez-Veronesi MC, Placheta, E, Zhang JJ, Gordon T, Borschel GH. 2016. ErbB2 blockade with Herceptin (trastuzumab) enhances peripheral nerve regeneration after repair of acute or chronic peripheral nerve injury. Annals of Neurology 80(1): 112-126.
ErbB2 inhibitor Herceptin promotes axonal outgrowth
ErbB2 inhibitor Herceptin promotes axonal outgrowth
Placheta, E, Hendry JM*, Wood MD, Lafontaine CW, Liu EH, Alvarez-Veronesi MC, Frey M, Gordon T, Borschel GH. 2014. The ErbB2 inhibitor Herceptin (Trastuzumab) promotes axon regeneration four weeks after acute nerve transection and repair. Neuroscience Letters 582: 81-86.
Side to side nerve bridges
Side to side nerve bridges
Hendry, JM, Alvarez-Veronesi MC, Snyder A, Gordon T, Borschel GH. 2014. Side-to-side nerve bridges support donor axon regeneration into chronically denervated nerves and are associated with characteristic changes in Schwann cell phenotype. Neurosurgery 77(5): 803-813.
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