A new drug to reduce inflammation after spinal cord injury by blocking HuR
Official title: Therapeutic benefit of targeting neuroinflammation in spinal cord injury with a novel small molecule inhibitor of the RNA regulator HuR
Funded at Birmingham VA Medical Center · NIH-11212832 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Testing a new drug that blocks a protein called HuR to reduce harmful inflammation soon after a spinal cord injury.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Birmingham VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2022 |
| Project end | September 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX005899-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11212832 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with recent (acute) spinal cord injuries, particularly those seen early after injury, would be the most likely candidates for this line of treatment.
✕Less likely to help
People with long-standing, chronic spinal cord injuries where damage is already established may not benefit from a treatment that targets early inflammatory damage.
What this research studies
If you have a spinal cord injury, researchers are developing a small drug that blocks HuR, a protein that helps turn up inflammatory signals from glial cells. They will test the drug in lab models to see if it lowers levels of inflammatory molecules, protects nerve cells, and reduces swelling and tissue loss around the injury. The team will measure tissue damage, chemical markers of inflammation, and signs of chronic pain and recovery of function in preclinical experiments. If results are promising and safe, this work could set the stage for future human testing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could limit secondary tissue damage after spinal cord injury, preserving nerve cells and lowering the risk of long-term disability and chronic pain.
How similar studies have gone: Previous anti-inflammatory strategies after spinal cord injury have had mixed results, and directly targeting the RNA regulator HuR is a novel approach with limited prior human data.
Where this research is happening
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Birmingham VA Medical Center
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: King, Peter H — Birmingham VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: King, Peter H
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.