Timothy O'Shea | Profiles RNS

Timothy O'Shea, PhD

Assistant Professor

Boston University College of Engineering

Biomedical Engineering

PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
ME/MEng, Queensland University of Technology
BE/BEng, Queensland University of Technology

Websites

	BU College of Engineering
	Google Scholar
	LinkedIn
	BU Neuroscience Faculty
	ResearchGate

ORCID : 0000-0002-0812-1179

Dr. Timothy O'Shea is an Assistant Professor in the Biomedical Engineering department at Boston University. He grew up in Brisbane, Australia and moved to the USA in 2009 for graduate study supported by a John Monash Scholarship. His research group is focused on developing new treatments for brain and spinal cord disorders by engineering glia to perform specific reparative functions. He is interested in understanding how glia respond in injury and disease using animal models and developing new bioengineering tools to regulate their functions. His labs bioengineering toolkit includes biomaterials composed of polymers with supramolecular functionality and tunable physiochemical and biological properties as well as transgenic neural cell lines that we use for transplantation studies and interrogating glia-biomaterial interactions. His current research initiatives include: (i) testing strategies to ‘re-neuralize’ stroke and spinal cord injury lesions by reinstating functional glial frameworks into non-neural lesion cores; (ii) improving the performance of neural implants by regulating the biomaterial-neural interface using glia engineering; and (iii) developing and testing drug delivery strategies to preferentially target therapies to dysfunctional glia responsible for disease.

BU Research

Regulating parenchymal repair in wound healing
07/01/2024 - 04/30/2029 (PI)
NIH/National Institute of General Medical Sciences
1R35GM154942-01

Glycopolymer Biomaterials for Regulating Adaptive Reprogramming in Glia
07/01/2024 - 06/30/2026 (Key Person / Mentor)
NIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke
1F31NS135944-01A1

Nanotherapeutics for targeted glial cell drug delivery
04/01/2024 - 03/31/2026 (PI)
NIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke
1R21NS133525-01A1

Intravital imaging of transplant evoked glia repair in stroke
07/01/2023 - 06/30/2025 (PI)
NIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke
5R21NS128821-02

Glia repair of chronic SCI lesion cores by a sequential enzymatic debridement and cell grafting strategy
07/01/2022 - 06/30/2025 (PI)
Wings for Life

Directing Adaptive Glia Repair in Adult Spinal Cord Injury Using Injectable Biomaterials
01/01/2023 - 12/31/2024 (PI)
Paralyzed Veterans of America

Faculty for the Future Fellowship
07/01/2023 - 06/30/2024 (Key Person / Mentor)
Schlumberger Foundation, Inc.

Promoting astroglial maturation of NPC grafts in SCI lesion cores using immunomodulatory hydrogels
07/31/2021 - 01/31/2024 (PI)
Craig H. Neilsen Foundation

Faculty for the Future Fellowship
07/01/2022 - 06/30/2023 (Key Person / Mentor)
Schlumberger Foundation, Inc.

Promoting glia-based repair in spinal cord injury
06/01/2021 - 05/31/2022 (PI)
Bryon Riesch Paralysis Foundation

Title

Yr	Title	Project-Sub Proj	Pubs

Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.

iCite Analysis Copy PMIDs To Clipboard

O'Shea TM, Ao Y, Wang S, Ren Y, Cheng AL, Kawaguchi R, Shi Z, Swarup V, Sofroniew MV. Derivation and transcriptional reprogramming of border-forming wound repair astrocytes after spinal cord injury or stroke in mice. Nat Neurosci. 2024 Aug; 27(8):1505-1521. PMID: 38907165; PMCID: PMC11303254; DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01684-6;

O'Shea TM, Ao Y, Wang S, Wollenberg AL, Kim JH, Ramos Espinoza RA, Czechanski A, Reinholdt LG, Deming TJ, Sofroniew MV. Lesion environments direct transplanted neural progenitors towards a wound repair astroglial phenotype in mice. Nat Commun. 2022 Sep 28; 13(1):5702. PMID: 36171203; PMCID: PMC9519954; DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33382-x;

O’Shea, T.M., Wollenberg, A.L., Kim, J.H., Ao, Y. Deming, T.J. and Sofroniew M.V. Foreign body responses in mouse central nervous system mimic natural wound responses and alter biomaterial functions. Nature Communications. 2020; 11:6203.
*Garrett, M.C., O’Shea, T.M., Wollenberg, A.L., Bernstein, A.M., Hung, D., Staarman, B., Soto, H., Deming, T.J., Sofroniew M.V., and Kornblum, H.I. Injectable diblock copolypeptide hydrogel provides platform to maintain high local concentrations of taxol and local tumor control. Plos One. 2020; 15 (7):e0219632.

Anderson MA, O'Shea TM, Burda JE, Ao Y, Barlatey SL, Bernstein AM, Kim JH, James ND, Rogers A, Kato B, Wollenberg AL, Kawaguchi R, Coppola G, Wang C, Deming TJ, He Z, Courtine G, Sofroniew MV. Required growth facilitators propel axon regeneration across complete spinal cord injury. Nature. 2018 09; 561(7723):396-400. PMID: 30158698; PMCID: PMC6151128; DOI: 10.1038/s41586-018-0467-6;

Wollenberg AL, O'Shea TM, Kim JH, Czechanski A, Reinholdt LG, Sofroniew MV, Deming TJ. Injectable polypeptide hydrogels via methionine modification for neural stem cell delivery. Biomaterials. 2018 09; 178:527-545. PMID: 29657091; PMCID: PMC6054810; DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2018.03.057;

*Anderson, M.A., *O’Shea, T.M., Burda, J.E., Ao, Y., Barlatey, S.L., Bernstein A.M., Kim, J.H., James, N.D., Rogers, A., Kato, B., Wollenberg, A.L., Kawaguchi, R., Coppola, G., Wang, C., Deming, T.J., He, Z., Courtine, G., and Sofroniew M.V. Required growth facilitators propel axon regeneration across complete spinal cord injury. Nature. 2018; 561:396–400.
Wollenberg, A.L. *O’Shea, T.M., Kim, J., Sofroniew M.V., and Deming, T.J. Injectable polypeptide hydrogels via methionine modification for neural stem cell delivery. Biomaterials. 2018; 178:527-545.

Sun Y, Wollenberg AL, O'Shea TM, Cui Y, Zhou ZH, Sofroniew MV, Deming TJ. Conformation-Directed Formation of Self-Healing Diblock Copolypeptide Hydrogels via Polyion Complexation. J Am Chem Soc. 2017 10 25; 139(42):15114-15121. PMID: 28976744; PMCID: PMC6037417; DOI: 10.1021/jacs.7b08190;

Martinez-Moreno M, O'Shea TM, Zepecki JP, Olaru A, Ness JK, Langer R, Tapinos N. Regulation of Peripheral Myelination through Transcriptional Buffering of Egr2 by an Antisense Long Non-coding RNA. Cell Rep. 2017 Aug 22; 20(8):1950-1963. PMID: 28834756; PMCID: PMC5800313; DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.07.068;

Showing 10 of 32 results. Show More

O'Shea TM, Burda JE, Sofroniew MV. Cell biology of spinal cord injury and repair. J Clin Invest. 2017 Sep 01; 127(9):3259-3270. PMID: 28737515; PMCID: PMC5669582; DOI: 10.1172/JCI90608;

Slotkin JR, Pritchard CD, Luque B, Ye J, Layer RT, Lawrence MS, O'Shea TM, Roy RR, Zhong H, Vollenweider I, Edgerton VR, Courtine G, Woodard EJ, Langer R. Biodegradable scaffolds promote tissue remodeling and functional improvement in non-human primates with acute spinal cord injury. Biomaterials. 2017 04; 123:63-76. PMID: 28167393; DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2017.01.024;

Ren Y, Ao Y, O'Shea TM, Burda JE, Bernstein AM, Brumm AJ, Muthusamy N, Ghashghaei HT, Carmichael ST, Cheng L, Sofroniew MV. Ependymal cell contribution to scar formation after spinal cord injury is minimal, local and dependent on direct ependymal injury. Sci Rep. 2017 01 24; 7:41122. PMID: 28117356; PMCID: PMC5259707; DOI: 10.1038/srep41122;

Sun, Y., Wollenberg, A.L., O’Shea, T.M., Cui, Y., Zhou, Z.H., Sofroniew M.V. and Deming, T.J. Conformation directed formation of self-healing diblock copolypeptide hydrogels via polyion complexation. Journal of American Chemical Society. 2017; 139(42):15114-15121.
Martinez-Moreno, M., O’Shea, T.M., Zepecki, J.P., Olaru, A., Ness, J.K., Langer, R. and Tapinos, N. Regulation of peripheral myelination through transcriptional buffering of Egr2 by an antisense long noncoding RNA. Cell Reports. 2017; 20(8):1950-1963.
O’Shea, T.M., Burda, J. E., and Sofroniew M. V. Cell biology of spinal cord injury and repair. Journal of Clinical Investigation. 2017; 127(9):3259-3270.
O'Shea T.M., Wollenberg A.L., Bernstein A.M., Sarte D.B., Deming T.J., and Sofroniew M.V. Smart Materials for Central Nervous System Cell Delivery and Tissue Engineering. Royal Society of Chemistry. 2017; Chapter 19:529-557.
Slotkin, J. R., Pritchard C. D., Luque B., Ye J., Layer R. T., Lawrence M. S., O'Shea T. M., Roy R.R., Zhong H., Vollenweider I., Edgerton V. R., Courtine G., Woodard E. J., and Langer, R. Biodegradable scaffolds promote tissue remodeling and functional improvement in non-human primates with acute spinal cord injury. Biomaterials. 2017; 123 : 63-76.
Ren, Y., Ao Y., O’Shea T. M., Burda J. E., Bernstein A. M., Brumm A. J., Muthusamy N., Ghashghaei H. T., Carmichael S. T., Cheng L. and Sofroniew M. V. Ependymal cell contribution to scar formation after spinal cord injury is minimal, local and dependent on direct ependymal injury. Scientific Reports. 2017; 7:7: 41122.

Slotkin JR, Ness JK, Snyder KM, Skiles AA, Woodard EJ, O'Shea T, Layer RT, Aimetti AA, Toms SA, Langer R, Tapinos N. Sustained Local Release of Methylprednisolone From a Thiol-Acrylate Poly(Ethylene Glycol) Hydrogel for Treating Chronic Compressive Radicular Pain. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2016 Apr; 41(8):E441-8. PMID: 26630427; DOI: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000001309;

Anderson MA, Burda JE, Ren Y, Ao Y, O'Shea TM, Kawaguchi R, Coppola G, Khakh BS, Deming TJ, Sofroniew MV. Astrocyte scar formation aids central nervous system axon regeneration. Nature. 2016 Apr 14; 532(7598):195-200. PMID: 27027288; PMCID: PMC5243141; DOI: 10.1038/nature17623;

Anderson M. A., Burda J. E., Ren Y., Ao Y., O’Shea, T.M., Kawaguchi R., Coppola G., Khakh B. S., Deming T. J. and Sofroniew M. V. Astrocyte scar formation aids central nervous system axon regeneration. Nature. 2016; 532(7598):195-200.
Slotkin J.R., Ness J.K., Snyder K.M., Skiles A.A., Woodard E.J., O’Shea, T.M., Reynolds F.M., Layer R.T., Aimetti A.A., Toms S.A., Langer R., and Tapinos N. Sustained local release of methylprednisolone from a thiol-acrylate poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogel for treating chronic compressive radicular pain. Journal of Neurosurgery. 2016; 12(6):A1576.

O'Shea TM, Webber MJ, Aimetti AA, Langer R. Covalent Incorporation of Trehalose within Hydrogels for Enhanced Long-Term Functional Stability and Controlled Release of Biomacromolecules. Adv Healthc Mater. 2015 Aug 26; 4(12):1802-12. PMID: 26088467; PMCID: PMC4825875; DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201500334;

O’Shea, T.M, Webber, M.J., Aimetti A.A., and Langer R. Covalent Incorporation of Trehalose within Hydrogels for Enhanced Long-Term Functional Stability and Controlled Release of Biomacromolecules. Advanced Healthcare Materials. 2015; 4(12):1802-12.

O'Shea TM, Aimetti AA, Kim E, Yesilyurt V, Langer R. Synthesis and characterization of a library of in-situ curing, nonswelling ethoxylated polyol thiol-ene hydrogels for tailorable macromolecule delivery. Adv Mater. 2015 Jan 07; 27(1):65-72. PMID: 25381960; DOI: 10.1002/adma.201403724;

Barth, H., Crafoord S., O’Shea, T.M., Pritchard, C.D., Langer R, Ghosh FK. A new model for in vitro testing of novel vitreous substitute candidates. Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology. 2014; 252(10):1581-1592.
Pritchard C.D., Crafoord S., Andréasson S., Arnér K.M., O'Shea T.M., Langer R., Ghosh F.K. Evaluation of viscoelastic poly(ethylene glycol) sols as vitreous substitutes in an experimental vitrectomy model in rabbits. Acta Biomaterialia. 2011; 7(3):936-943.
Pritchard, C.D., O’Shea, T.M., Calo, E., Siegwart, D.J., Anderson, D.G., Langer R., et al. A novel injectable thiol-acrylate poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogel for sustained release of methylprednisolone sodium succinate. Biomaterials. 2011; 32(2):587-597.

Pritchard CD, Crafoord S, Andréasson S, Arnér KM, O'Shea TM, Langer R, Ghosh FK. Evaluation of viscoelastic poly(ethylene glycol) sols as vitreous substitutes in an experimental vitrectomy model in rabbits. Acta Biomater. 2011 Mar; 7(3):936-43. PMID: 21081184; PMCID: PMC4059419; DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2010.11.013;

Pritchard CD, O'Shea TM, Siegwart DJ, Calo E, Anderson DG, Reynolds FM, Thomas JA, Slotkin JR, Woodard EJ, Langer R. An injectable thiol-acrylate poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogel for sustained release of methylprednisolone sodium succinate. Biomaterials. 2011 Jan; 32(2):587-97. PMID: 20880573; PMCID: PMC4070531; DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2010.08.106;

O'Shea TM, Miao X. Bilayered scaffolds for osteochondral tissue engineering. Tissue Eng Part B Rev. 2008 Dec; 14(4):447-64. PMID: 18844605; DOI: 10.1089/ten.teb.2008.0327;

This graph shows the total number of publications by year, by first, middle/unknown, or last author.

Bar chart showing 32 publications over 11 distinct years, with a maximum of 11 publications in 2017