Nadine Kerr
Research Assistant Professor, Neurological Surgery
Miller School of Medicine
n.kerr@med.miami.edu
Dr. Nadine Kerr’s research focuses on defining the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the systemic inflammatory response and dysfunction of peripheral organs following central nervous system (CNS) injury, particularly traumatic brain injury (TBI) and stroke. Disruption of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) after CNS injury permits the release of inflammatory mediators into the circulation, which can drive damage in distant organs. This secondary systemic injury can, in turn, exacerbate neurological damage, highlighting a bidirectional communication axis between the brain and peripheral organ systems. Dr. Kerr’s current work primarily centers on the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. A major area of investigation in her laboratory is the role of extracellular vesicle (EV)–mediated inflammatory signaling in systemic organ dysfunction after TBI and stroke. Extracellular vesicles, including exosomes and microvesicles, are key mediators of intercellular communication. Her group is particularly interested in how EV cargo and injury-induced EV release contribute to inflammation and cell death in peripheral, non-neurological organs. Building on their extensive work in inflammasome signaling and pyroptotic cell death, they study how activation of the innate immune inflammasome complex leads the induction of pyroptosis, a regulated and highly inflammatory form of cell death. In parallel, they are developing therapeutic strategies aimed at inhibiting EV uptake and pyroptosis. The overarching goal of her research is to reduce systemic inflammation and thereby mitigate both neurological injury and peripheral organ dysfunction following TBI and stroke.
Keywords: traumatic brain injury, stroke, neuroinflammation, extracellular vesicle signaling, blood brain barrier
