Delivering targeted, painless nerve growth factor to the spinal cord to help people with spinal cord injuries
Official title: Efficient Delivery of Optimized Painless Nerve Growth Factors to the Central Nervous System to Treat Spinal Cord Injuries
Funded at Tulane University of Louisiana · NIH-11412690 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A researcher team is testing a new way to safely deliver nerve growth factor directly to the spinal cord to help people recover after a traumatic injury.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tulane University of Louisiana NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Orleans, United States) |
| Project start | September 9, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $610,447 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS140655-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11412690 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with spinal cord injuries who are candidates for non-surgical or delayed surgical intervention and may benefit from neuroregenerative therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without SCI or those unlikely to receive a neuroregenerative benefit from NGF delivery may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to improve how nerve growth factor can reach the central nervous system after spinal cord injury, addressing issues of bioavailability and safety. The researchers plan to use biocompatible materials and delivery methods that work even if surgery is delayed, with the goal of limiting secondary damage and encouraging regeneration. The study is designed to translate findings into a practical approach for patients who have acute or chronic SCI and may benefit from better neurological recovery. The exact experimental steps will involve optimizing delivery through a systematic injection strategy and evaluating outcomes in relevant models and, potentially, human studies in the future.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with spinal cord injuries could have improved recovery and quality of life due to enhanced nerve repair and reduced secondary injury.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows potential for nerve growth factor in neural repair, but delivery to the CNS remains challenging and this project seeks to overcome those barriers.
Where this research is happening
-
Tulane University of Louisiana
New Orleans, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pourtaheri, Sina — Tulane University of Louisiana
- Study coordinator: Pourtaheri, Sina
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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.