My research endeavors have defined optimal antithrombotic therapy for stroke prevention, clarified the role of high dose vitamins for treatment of hyperhomocysteinemia, and provided insight into the pathophysiology of ischemic stroke. I was the principal investigator of the NINDS P50 Partners Specialized Program of Translational Research in Acute Stroke (SPOTRIAS) and the American Heart Association supported Harvard Bugher Center for Stroke Prevention and Genetics Research, and am currently the Principal Neurologist on the Insulin Resistance Intervention after Stroke trial. I am committed to mentoring patient-oriented research of medical students, residents, and fellows.

My current research focus has been on the interaction between oxidative stress and matrix metalloproteinases to better define the mechanism of injury in acute stroke, and identify potential targets for intervention. We are examining dietary factors as they contribute to basal antioxidant capacity, and exploring in vivo effects of acute and chronic inflammation on oxidative stress. Furthermore, we have developed a unique semi-automated process for analyzing white matter disease, a silent and insidious manifestation of cerebrovascular disease, which will enable us to identify the contributions of genetic polymorphisms, oxidative stress, and cerebral blood flow on the pathophysiology of this process.