Valeria Cavalli, PhD

Valeria Cavalli, PhD

Robert E. and Louise F. Dunn Professor of Biomedical Research and Professor of Neuroscience

Cavalli Lab | Google Scholar Profile | Neurotree

Research

The primary goal of the Cavalli Lab is to unravel the molecular events that dictate the regenerative response of neurons in the peripheral nervous system and to relate this information to the lack of regenerative capacity in the central nervous system (CNS).

The lab also seeks to understand how satellite glial cells, which wrap sensory neuron soma, contribute to sensory function and dysfunction in health and disease states. The lab explores their function in neurodevelopmental disorders and aging.

Current projects within the lab include:

  • Intrinsic mechanisms controlling axon regeneration
    The lab studies the mechanisms by which a pro-regenerative state is reprogrammed following axon injury in sensory neurons.
  • Role of satellite glial cells and the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) microenvironment in axon regeneration
    Using single-cell RNAseq of DRG in naïve and injured conditions in vivo, the lab unravels if and how non-neuronal cells respond to injury and actively contribute to the axon regeneration process.
  • Targeted strategies to improve regeneration in the injured CNS
    To advance the deciphering of pathways regulating axon regeneration in peripheral sensory neurons, the lab is testing whether manipulating neurons and non-neuronal cells — genetically or pharmacologically — enhances axon regeneration in the CNS, using both the spinal cord and the optic nerve injury models.
  • Role of satellite glial cells in neurodevelopmental disorders and aging
    Satellite Glial Cells (SGCs), which closely envelop sensory neuron somas in the DRG, play a pivotal role in maintaining neuronal function and responding to environmental changes. The lab has expanded its studies to understand the contribution of SGCs to sensory dysfunction in mouse models of neurodevelopmental disorders (Fragile X syndrome) and aging.

Selected publications

A complete list of published work is available in My Bibliography.

2024

  • Deng P-Y, Kumar A, Cavalli V, Klyachko VA. (2024) Circuit-based intervention corrects excessive dentate gyrus output in the fragile X mouse model. eLife. 12:RP92563. doi: 10.7554/eLife.92563.
  • Feng R, Rosen S, Ansari I, John S, Thomsen M, Geoffroy C, Cavalli V. (2024) Endothelin B receptor inhibition rescues aging-dependent neuronal regenerative decline. eLife. 13:RP100217. doi: 10.7554/eLife.100217.1.

2023

  • Feng R, Muraleedharan Saraswathy V, Mokalled MH, Cavalli V. (2023) Self-renewing macrophages in dorsal root ganglia contribute to promote nerve regeneration. PNAS. 120(7):e2215906120. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2215906120. Epub 2023 Feb 10.
  • Brazill JM, Shin D, Magee K, Majumdar A, Shen IR, Cavalli V, Scheller EL. (2023) Knockout of TSC2 in Nav1.8+ neurons predisposes to the onset of normal weight obesity. Mol Metab. 68:101664. doi: 10.1016/j.molmet.2022.101664. Epub 2022 Dec 28.

2022

  • Avraham O, Deng P, Maschi D, Klyachko V, Cavalli V. (2022) Disrupted association of sensory neurons with enveloping satellite glial cells in Fragile X mouse model. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience. 14:796070.
    Resources available »
  • Avraham O, Le J, Leahy K, Li T, Zhao G, Cavalli V. (2022) Analysis of neuronal injury transcriptional response identifies CTCF and YY1 as co-operating factors regulating axon regeneration. Front Mol Neurosci. 15:967472. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.967472. eCollection 2022.
  • Avraham O, Chamessian A, Feng R, Yang L, Halevi A, Moore A, Gereau R, Cavalli V. (2022) Profiling the molecular signature of satellite glial cells at the single cell level reveals high similarities between rodents and humans. Pain. 163(12):2348-2364. 
    Featured publication article »
  • Deng P-Y, Kumar A, Cavalli V, Klyachko VA. (2022) FMRP regulates GABAa receptor channel activity to control signal integration in hippocampal granule cells. Cell Reports. 39(7):110820. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110820.

2021

  • Avraham O, Fend R, Ewan EE, Rustenhoven J, Zhao G, Cavalli V. (2021) Profiling sensory neuron microenvironment after peripheral and central axon injury reveals key pathways for neural repair. eLife. September 29, 2021; 10:e68457 doi: 10.7554/eLife.68457
  • Ewan EE, Avraham O, Carlin D, Goncalves TM, Zhao G, Cavalli V. (2021) Ascending dorsal column sensory neurons respond to spinal cord injury and downregulate genes related to lipid metabolism. Scientific Reports. January 11, 2021; 11(1):374.

Previous Years

  • Avraham O, Deng PY, Jones A, Kuruvilla R, Semenkovich CF, Klyachko VA, Cavalli V. (2020) Satellite glial cells promote regenerative growth in sensory neurons. Nature Communications, Sep 29, 2020; 11(1):4891.
    Department of Neuroscience featured publication
  • Pita Thomas W, Mahar M, Joshi A, Gan D, Cavalli V. (2019) HDAC5 promotes optic nerve regeneration in retinal ganglion cells. Exp Neurology. 317:271-283.
  • Mahar M, Cavalli V. (2018) Intrinsic mechanisms of neuronal axon regeneration. Nature Reviews Neuroscience. 19(6):323-337.
  • Oh YM, Mahar M, Ewan E, Leahy K, Zhao G, Cavalli V. (2018) Epigenetic regulator UHRF1 inactivates REST and growth suppressor gene expression via DNA methylation to promote axon regeneration. PNAS. 115(52):E12417-E12426.
  • Cho Y, Shin JE, Ewan EE, Oh YM, Pita-Thomas W, Cavalli V. (2015) Activating injury-responsive genes with hypoxia enhances axon regeneration through neuronal HIF-1α. Neuron. 18:720-34.
  • Cho Y, Sloutsky R, Naegle KM, Cavalli V. (2013) Injury-induced HDAC5 nuclear export is essential for axon regeneration. Cell. 155:894-908. 
    Selected by Faculty of 1000. Highlighted article: Editor’s Choice Science Signaling, Nature Reviews in Neuroscience, and The Scientist.
  • Shin JE, Cho Y, Beirowski B, Milbrandt J, Cavalli V, DiAntonio A. (2012) Dual leucine zipper kinase is required for retrograde injury signaling and axonal regeneration. Neuron. 74:1015-1022. Highlighted article: Nix P, Bastiani M. Neuron. 74(6):961-963.

Education

1987-1992 BS and Master in Biochemistry, University of Geneva Switzerland

1991-1994 Predoctoral Research Student, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rome “La Sapienza” Italy. Advisor Prof. M. Brunori

1994-1995 Predoctoral Research Student, Department of Pharmacology, Biozentrum, Basel, Switzerland. Advisor Prof. M.A Ruegg

1995-2000 PhD Student, Department of Biochemistry, University of Geneva, Switzerland. Thesis advisor Prof. J. Gruenberg

Selected honors

2021 Named the Robert E. and Louis F. Dunn Professor of Biomedical Research

2020 Research Program Award (R35)

2019 Jack Griffin Plenary Lecture, Peripheral Nerve Society (PNS) Annual meeting

2019 Stein Innovation Award, Research to Prevent Blindness

2017 Visiting Faculty Program Fellowship, Weizmann Institute of Science

2014 Distinguished Investigator Award, Washington University School of Medicine

2005 Keystone Symposia Scholarship

2004 CMM Department Retreat, UCSD – Excellence award for outstanding accomplishment in research

2003 International Campaign for Cures of Spinal Cord Injury Paralysis – Outstanding Young Investigator Award

2002 Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation – Postdoctoral Fellowship

2001 Swiss National Science Foundation – Postdoctoral Fellowship