About Me
Dr. Hecker has earned a Bachelor of Science (BS) and Master of Science (MS) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin, and a PhD in Chemical and Biomedical Engineering from the University of Washington. Additionally, he holds a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree from the University of Virginia and Anesthesiology residency at the University of Pennsylvania in 1992. While at Penn, Hecker completed a two year T-32 Research Fellowship, learning how to use and deliver mRNA to the brain and spinal cord, working in the same lab as Kati Karikó, who recently recieved the 2023 Nobel Prize for her work with mRNA Covid vaccines. Hecker’s research focuses on neuroprotection and stress responses. He has developed methods to deliver genes to the brain to protect against injury. His work has shown that these methods are safe and effective, providing a foundation for potential therapeutic applications. He is currently investigating the role of HSPs in various neurological conditions and conducting studies on cytokine responses during major spine procedures.