Scafidi Lab

Publications

2026

  • Labastida, J.A., Fernandez, R.F., Chu, T., Puleo, N., Shishikura, M., Wolfgang, M.J., Scafidi, J., & Scafidi, S. (2026). Loss of Fatty Acid Oxidation by Neural Stem and Progenitor Cells Increases Proliferation but Does Not Improve Long-Term Neurogenesis After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. ASN Neuro, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/17590914.2025.2610198

2025

  • Fernandez, R.F., Fallatah, W., Ji, Y., Jones, J.W., Johnson, C.C., Tressler, Glunde, K., Ali, R. Moser, A. B., Wolfgang, M.J., Scafidi, S., & Scafidi, J. (2025). Dysregulated hippocampal fatty acid metabolism following intermittent hypoxemia–induced neonatal brain injury is rescued by treatment with acetate. Nature Communications, 17, Article 840. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-67542-6
  • Fernandez, R.F., Weglarczyk, P., Zokaei, S., Huguenin, S., Scafidi, J., Ellis, J.M., & Scafidi, S. (2025). Aging Effects on Lipid Metabolism in Response to Traumatic Brain Injury. Journal of Neurochemistry. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/jnc.70227
  • Lammert, D.B., Fernandez, R. F., Liu, X., Chen, J., Koehler, R. C., Scafidi, S., et al. (2025). Proteomic analysis of hippocampus reveals metabolic reprogramming in a piglet model of mild hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. PLOS ONE, 20(4), e0320869. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0320869
  • Scafidi, S., Xu, S., Jernberg, J. N., Chu, T., Fiskum, G., & McKenna, M. C. (2025). Longitudinal brain structural, neurochemical, and behavioral changes following traumatic brain injury in immature rat brain with acetyl-L-carnitine treatment. Neurochemical Research, 50(4), 256–269. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-025-XXXXX
  • Choi, J., Smith, D. M., Scafidi, S., Riddle, R. C., & Wolfgang, M. J. (2024). Carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 facilitates fatty acid oxidation in a non-cell-autonomous manner. Cell Reports, 43(12), Article XXXX. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2024.XXXXX

2024

  • Yao, M., Wei, Z., Nielsen, J. S., Ouyang, Y., Kakazu, A., Wang, H., et al. (2024). Senolytic therapy preserves blood–brain barrier integrity and promotes microglia homeostasis in a tauopathy model. Neurobiology of Disease, 202, 106711. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106711
  • Choi, J., Smith, D. M., Lee, Y. J., Cai, D., Hossain, M. J., O’Connor, T. J., et al. (2024). Etomoxir repurposed as a promiscuous fatty acid mimetic chemoproteomic probe. iScience, 27(9), Article XXXX. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2024.XXXXX
  • Rae, C. D., Baur, J. A., Borges, K., Dienel, G., Díaz-García, C. M., Douglass, S. R., et al. (2024). Brain energy metabolism: A roadmap for future research. Journal of Neurochemistry, 168(5), 910–954. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnc.15888
  • Khoury, E. S., Patel, R. V., O’Ferrall, C., Fowler, A., Sah, N., Sharma, A., et al. (2024). Dendrimer nanotherapy targeting glial dysfunction improves inflammation and neurobehavioral phenotype in an adult female Mecp2-heterozygous mouse model. Journal of Neurochemistry, 168(5), 841–854. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnc.15872

2023

  • Martinez-Garza, U., Choi, J., Scafidi, S., & Wolfgang, M. J. (2023). Proteomics identifies the developmental regulation of HKDC1 in liver of pigs and mice. American Journal of Physiology–Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 325(2), RXXX–RXXX. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.XXXXX
  • Yelton, S. E. G., Williams, M. A., Young, M., Fields, J., Pearl, M. S., Casella, J. F., et al. (2023). Perioperative management of pediatric patients with moyamoya arteriopathy. Journal of Pediatric Intensive Care, 12(3), 159–166. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0042-1751034
  • Bowman, C. E., Scafidi, J., & Scafidi, S. (2019). Metabolic perturbations after pediatric traumatic brain injury: It’s not just about glucose. Experimental Neurology, 316, 74–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.expneurol.2019.04.002

2022

  • Scafidi, S., Jernberg, J. N., Fiskum, G., & McKenna, M. C. (2022). Metabolism of exogenous [2,4-¹³C] β-hydroxybutyrate following traumatic brain injury in immature rats: An ex vivo NMR study. Metabolites, 12(8), 710. https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo12080710
  • Wolfgang, M. J., Choi, J., & Scafidi, S. (2021). Functional loss of ketogenesis in odontocete cetaceans. Journal of Experimental Biology, 224(20), jeb243062. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.243062

2021

  • Shi, A. C., Rohlwink, U., Scafidi, S., & Kannan, S. (2021). Microglial metabolism after pediatric traumatic brain injury: Overlooked bystanders or active participants? Frontiers in Neurology, 11, 626999.
    https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2020.626999
  • Gottschalk, A., Scafidi, S., & Toung, T. J. K. (2021). Brain water as a function of age and weight in normal rats. PLOS ONE, 16(9), e0249384. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0249384
  • Wolfgang, M. J., Choi, J., & Scafidi, S. (2021). Functional loss of ketogenesis in odontocete cetaceans. Journal of Experimental Biology, 224(20), jeb243062. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.243062

2020

  • White, C. J., Lee, J., Choi, J., Chu, T., Scafidi, S., & Wolfgang, M. J. (2020). Determining the bioenergetic capacity for fatty acid oxidation in the mammalian nervous system. Molecular and Cellular Biology, 40(10), e00037-20.
    https://doi.org/10.1128/MCB.00037-20
  • Hansen, D., Hidalgo, J., Cohen, A., Mukherjee, D., & Scafidi, S. (2020). Evaluation and management of symptomatic vasospasm following endoscopic endonasal resection of pediatric adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma. Case Reports in Pediatrics, 2020, 8822874.
    https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/8822874

2019

  • Bowman, C. E., Alpergin, E. S. S., Cavagnini, K., Smith, D. M., Scafidi, S., et al. (2019). Maternal lipid metabolism directs fetal liver programming following nutrient stress. Cell Reports, 29(5), 1299–1310.e3.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2019.09.067
  • Klimova, N., Long, A., Scafidi, S., & Kristian, T. (2019). Interplay between NAD⁺ and acetyl-CoA metabolism in ischemia-induced mitochondrial pathophysiology. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta – Molecular Basis of Disease, 1865(8), 2069–2085. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbadis.2019.04.010
  • Bowman, C. E., Scafidi, J., & Scafidi, S. (2019). Metabolic perturbations after pediatric traumatic brain injury: It’s not just about glucose. Experimental Neurology, 316, 74–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.expneurol.2019.04.002
  • Jackson, E. M., Costabile, P. M., Tekes, A., Steffen, K. M., Ahn, E. S., Scafidi, S., et al. (2018). Use of telemedicine during interhospital transport of children with operative intracranial hemorrhage. Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, 19(11), 1033–1038. https://doi.org/10.1097/PCC.0000000000001708

2018

  • Kim, S. P., Li, Z., Zoch, M. L., Frey, J. L., Bowman, C. E., Kushwaha, P., et al. (2017). Fatty acid oxidation by the osteoblast is required for normal bone acquisition in a sex- and diet-dependent manner. JCI Insight, 2(16), e92704.
    https://doi.org/10.1172/jci.insight.92704
  • Scafidi, S., Jernberg, J. N., Bowman, C. E., & Wolfgang, M. J. (2017). Developmental regulation and localization of carnitine palmitoyltransferases in rat brain. Journal of Neurochemistry, 142(3), 407–419. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnc.14054
  • Lee, J., Choi, J., Alpergin, E. S. S., Zhao, L., Hartung, T., Scafidi, S., et al. (2017). Loss of hepatic mitochondrial long-chain fatty acid oxidation confers resistance to diet-induced obesity and glucose intolerance. Cell Reports, 20(3), 655–667. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2017.06.080

2017

  • , S., Bowman, C., Poudel, M., & Wolfgang, M. (2017). Alterations in metabolic pathways following experimental traumatic brain injury in immature rat. Journal of Neurotrauma, 34(13), A132–A133.
    https://doi.org/10.1089/neu.2017.5341
  • Lee, J., Choi, J., Scafidi, S., & Wolfgang, M. J. (2016). Hepatic fatty acid oxidation restrains systemic catabolism during starvation. Cell Reports, 16(1), 201–212.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2016.05.030
  • Lee, J., Choi, J., Aja, S., Scafidi, S., & Wolfgang, M. J. (2016). Loss of adipose fatty acid oxidation does not potentiate obesity at thermoneutrality. Cell Reports, 14(6), 1308–1316.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2016.02.036
  • McKenna, M. C., Scafidi, S., & Robertson, C. L. (2015). Metabolic alterations in developing brain after injury: Knowns and unknowns. Neurochemical Research, 40(12), 2527–2543.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-015-1639-2
  • Bartnik-Olson, B. L., Harris, N. G., Shijo, K., Sutton, R. L., Alberto, I. B., & Scafidi, S., et al. (2015). Frontiers in mini review article. Transcellular Cycles Underlying Neurotransmission, 76, 1–15.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2015.01.023
  • Scafidi, S., Jernberg, J., Bowman, C., & Wolfgang, M. J. (2015). Astrocytes increase fatty acid oxidation following traumatic brain injury in the developing brain. Glia, 63, E180.
    https://doi.org/10.1002/glia.22845
  • Spaeder, M. C., Custer, J. W., Miles, A. H., Ngo, L., Morin, N. P., & Scafidi, S., et al. (2015). A multicenter outcomes analysis of children with severe rhino/enteroviral respiratory infection. Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, 16(2), 119–123.
    https://doi.org/10.1097/PCC.0000000000000346

2014

  • Kurz, J. E., Edwards, J., Scafidi, S., Gallo, V., & Scafidi, J. (2014). Intranasal epidermal growth factor treatment ameliorates hippocampal dysfunction in a mouse model of premature brain injury. Annals of Neurology, 76, S230–S231.
    https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.24234
  • Scafidi, J., Hammond, T. R., Scafidi, S., Ritter, J., Jablonska, B., Roncal, M., et al. (2014). Intranasal epidermal growth factor treatment rescues neonatal brain injury. Nature, 506(7487), 230–234. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature12914
  • Schousboe, A., Scafidi, S., Bak, L. K., Waagepetersen, H. S., & McKenna, M. C. (2014). Glutamate metabolism in the brain focusing on astrocytes. Advances in Neurobiology, 11, 13–30. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-08894-5_2
  • Stadick, S., Su, X., Fiskum, G., McKenna, M. C., & Scafidi, S. (2014). Acetyl-L-carnitine improves metabolic dysfunction and behavioral outcome after traumatic brain injury in immature rat. Journal of Neurotrauma, 31(12), A63–A63. https://doi.org/10.1089/neu.2014.3452
  • Robertson, C. L., Saraswati, M., Scafidi, S., Fiskum, G., Casey, P., & McKenna, M. C. (2013). Cerebral glucose metabolism in an immature rat model of pediatric traumatic brain injury. Journal of Neurotrauma, 30(24), 2066–2072. https://doi.org/10.1089/neu.2012.2773

2013

  • Spaeder, M. C., Custer, J. W., Bembea, M. M., Aganga, D. O., Song, X., & Scafidi, S., et al. (2013). A multicenter outcomes analysis of children with severe viral respiratory infection due to human metapneumovirus. Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, 14(3), 268–272.
    https://doi.org/10.1097/PCC.0b013e31827fa28b
  • McKenna, M. C., Waddell, J., Diamond, M., Kelly, T., Demers, D., Shi, D., & Scafidi, S. (2013). Acetyl-L-carnitine protects mitochondrial enzymes and improves long-term outcome after neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. Journal of Neuroscience Research, 91(8), 1105–1106. https://doi.org/10.1002/jnr.23372
  • Scafidi, S., McKenna, M. C., & Fiskum, G. (2013). Delayed glucose metabolism and increased utilization of β-hydroxybutyrate following traumatic brain injury in immature rats. Journal of Neuroscience Research, 91(8), 1093–1104. https://doi.org/10.1002/jnr.23296
  • Shi, D., Xu, S., Waddell, J., Scafidi, S., Roys, S., Gullapalli, R. P., & McKenna, M. C. (2012). Longitudinal in vivo developmental changes of metabolites in the hippocampus of Fmr1 knockout mice. Journal of Neurochemistry, 123(6), 971–981. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnc.12048
  • Scafidi, S., Xu, S., Kabadi, S. V., Waddell, J. L., Gullapalli, R., Fadan, A., et al. (2012). Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) provides long-term neuroprotection after traumatic brain injury in immature rats. Annals of Neurology, 72, S147. nhttps://doi.org/10.1002/ana.23619

2011

  • McKenna, M. C., Scafidi, S., Racz, J., Shi, D., & Fiskum, G. (2011). Neuroprotective effects of acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) after traumatic brain injury in young rats. Journal of Neurochemistry, 118, 227–228.
    https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-4159.2011.07264.x
  • Scafidi, S., Racz, J., Hazelton, J., McKenna, M. C., & Fiskum, G. (2011). Neuroprotection by acetyl-L-carnitine after traumatic injury to the immature rat brain. Developmental Neuroscience, 32(5-6), 480–487. https://doi.org/10.1159/000330911
  • Robertson, C., Scafidi, S., Saraswati, M., & McKenna, M. (2011). Determination of metabolic alterations after traumatic brain injury in immature rats using proton spectroscopy. Journal of Neurotrauma, 28(6), A53. https://doi.org/10.1089/neu.2010.1579

2010

  • Scafidi, S., Fiskum, G., Lindauer, S. L., Bamford, P., Shi, D., Hopkins, I., et al. (2010). Metabolism of acetyl-L-carnitine for energy and neurotransmitter synthesis in the immature rat brain. Journal of Neurochemistry, 114(3), 820–831.
    https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-4159.2010.06722.x

2009

  • Robertson, C. L., Scafidi, S., McKenna, M. C., & Fiskum, G. (2009). Mitochondrial mechanisms of cell death and neuroprotection in pediatric ischemic and traumatic brain injury. Experimental Neurology, 218(2), 371–380.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.expneurol.2009.03.024
  • Scafidi, S., Racz, J., Bamford, P., Shi, D., Fiskum, G., & McKenna, M. C. (2009). Oxidative neuronal and astrocytic metabolism of beta-hydroxybutyrate following traumatic brain injury in young rats. Journal of Neurotrauma, 26(8), A82.
    https://doi.org/10.1089/neu.2009.0968
  • Scafidi, S., O’Brien, J., Hopkins, I., Robertson, C., Fiskum, G., & McKenna, M. C. (2009). Delayed cerebral oxidative glucose metabolism after traumatic brain injury in young rats. Journal of Neurochemistry, 109, 189–197.
    https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-4159.2009.05908.x
  • Scafidi, S., Racz, J., Bamford, P., Shi, D., Fiskum, G., & McKenna, M. C. (2009). Metabolism of 3-beta-hydroxybutyrate in brain after traumatic brain injury in young rats. Journal of Neurochemistry, 108, 156.
    https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-4159.2009.05822.x

2007–2002 (selected)

  • McKenna, M. C., Lindauer, S. L., Fiskum, G., Bamford, P., Scafidi, S., Hopkins, I. B., et al. (2007). Metabolism of [2-C-13] acetyl-L-carnitine in 21-day-old rat brain for energy and neurotransmitter synthesis. Journal of Neurochemistry, 102, 116–117.
    https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-4159.2007.04528.x
  • Scafidi, S., O’Brien, J., Robertson, C., Saraswati, M., Fiskum, G., & McKenna, M. C. (2007). Delayed cerebral metabolism of [1,6-13C] glucose after traumatic brain injury in immature rat. Journal of Neurotrauma, 24(7), 1266.
    https://doi.org/10.1089/neu.2007.0302
  • Scafidi, S., Douglas, R. M., Farahani, R., Banasiak, K. J., & Haddad, G. G. (2007). Prostaglandin transporter expression in mouse brain during development and in response to hypoxia. Neuroscience, 146(3), 1150–1157.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2007.02.048
  • Scafidi, S., McKenna, M., Robertson, C., Saraswati, M., & Fiskum, G. (2006). H-1 and C-13 NMR studies of cerebral glucose metabolism following traumatic brain injury in immature rats. Journal of Neurotrauma, 23(6), 1036.
    https://doi.org/10.1089/neu.2006.23.1036
  • Scafidi, S., Haddad, G. G., & Banasiak, K. J. (2005). Brain prostaglandin transporter expression during development and hypoxia. Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, 6(1), 116.
    https://doi.org/10.1097/01.PCC.0000154397.03582.7A
  • Scafidi, S., Stock, A. C., & Ozuah, P. O. (2003). Comparison of peripheral-venous to central-venous oxygen saturation. Pediatric Research, 53(4), 50A.
    https://doi.org/10.1203/01.PDR.0000060900.24245.D7
  • Scafidi, S., Stock, A. C., & Ozuah, P. O. (2003). Comparing peripheral-venous to central-venous oxygen saturation. Journal of Investigative Medicine, 51, S428–S428. https://doi.org/10.2310/JIM.0b013e3180112b6b
  • Scafidi, S., Crooke, G., Parikh, S., Needleman, J., Blitman, N., & Stock, A. (2002). Airway abnormalities in Jarcho-Levin syndrome. Chest, 122(4), 242S. https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.122.4_MeetingAbstracts.242S