Bone health restoration after spinal cord injury through Wnt signaling and exercise
Official title: Neurogenic bone loss after SCI: skeletal rehabilitation via Wnt and exercise interactions
Funded at Rlr VA Medical Center · NIH-11421135 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to find a long-term way to preserve and rebuild bone in people with spinal cord injury, especially veterans, by combining exercise and bone-building signals.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rlr VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Indianapolis, United States) |
| Project start | November 1, 2021 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01RX003714-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11421135 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with spinal cord injury, especially veterans, who are at risk for neurogenic bone loss and fractures.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without SCI or those without bone loss related to SCI may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project focuses on preventing and reversing bone loss that occurs after spinal cord injury, which complicates rehabilitation. Researchers plan to explore how exercise and Wnt signaling interact to strengthen bone and reduce fractures in SCI patients. The work leverages neuromuscular rehabilitation advances while addressing the critical need to restore bone structure to support neurological recovery. The study is designed with a translational lens to eventually guide therapies for preserving skeletal health in affected individuals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to therapies that prevent fractures and improve overall rehabilitation outcomes for people with SCI.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal and early human studies suggest that targeting bone signaling pathways combined with exercise can improve bone strength, but this specific SCI-focused approach is still advancing.
Where this research is happening
-
Rlr VA Medical Center
Indianapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Robling, Alexander G — Rlr VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Robling, Alexander G
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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.