Christopher Czura, Phd is a molecular biologist who has been studying vagus nerve stimulation for the past 20 years. He has made seminal discoveries in neural control of bleeding and inflammation. Results of his research have supported the development of two bioelectronic medicine startup companies, the first of which recently closed Series D with total funding in excess of $80m to commercialize a proprietary implantable vagus nerve stimulator to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
The second company is currently enrolling subjects for a clinical trial of a proprietary non-invasive vagus nerve stimulator to treat postpartum hemorrhage. Chris served as Vice President of Scientific Affairs at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research (Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY), overseeing all aspects of laboratory operations, the annual budget, and construction and renovation projects. He coordinated strategic plan development with the President and the Board of Directors, and represented the research portfolio to senior leadership of Northwell Health.
Chris has authored or co-authored over 100 peer-reviewed papers, book chapters and meeting abstracts, and presented to audiences in science, military, industry, venture capital and philanthropy. He has been awarded one international patent and has a second patent pending, and has raised over $50 million in sponsored research agreements and laboratory construction grants.
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Sessions at Neurovations Events
- What is Known about the Cholinergic Anti-Inflammatory Pathway (2019)
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Author
- Yang, H., Ochani, M., Li, J., Qiang, X., Tanovic, M., Harris, H. E., … & Czura, C. J. (2004). Reversing established sepsis with antagonists of endogenous high-mobility group box 1. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 101(1), 296-301.
- Wang, H., Yu, M., Ochani, M., Amella, C. A., Tanovic, M., Susarla, S., … & Al-Abed, Y. (2003). Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α7 subunit is an essential regulator of inflammation. Nature, 421(6921), 384-388.
- Yang, H., Wang, H., Czura, C. J., & Tracey, K. J. (2005). The cytokine activity of HMGB1. Journal of leukocyte biology, 78(1), 1-8.
- Ulloa, L., Ochani, M., Yang, H., Tanovic, M., Halperin, D., Yang, R., … & Tracey, K. J. (2002). Ethyl pyruvate prevents lethality in mice with established lethal sepsis and systemic inflammation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 99(19), 12351-12356.
- Bernik, T. R., Friedman, S. G., Ochani, M., DiRaimo, R., Ulloa, L., Yang, H., … & Tracey, K. J. (2002). Pharmacological stimulation of the cholinergic antiinflammatory pathway. The Journal of experimental medicine, 195(6), 781-788.
- Huston, J. M., Ochani, M., Rosas-Ballina, M., Liao, H., Ochani, K., Pavlov, V. A., … & Tracey, K. J. (2006). Splenectomy inactivates the cholinergic antiinflammatory pathway during lethal endotoxemia and polymicrobial sepsis. The Journal of experimental medicine, 203(7), 1623-1628.
- Wang, H., Yang, H., Czura, C. J., Sama, A. E., & Tracey, K. J. (2001). HMGB1 as a late mediator of lethal systemic inflammation. American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine, 164(10), 1768-1773.