DLK/JNK signaling in distal axons and its role in nerve damage and maintenance
Official title: Physiological and Pathological Roles and Targets of DLK/JNK signaling in distal axons
Funded at Temple Univ of the Commonwealth · NIH-11387968 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores how a specific protein signaling pathway (DLK/JNK) affects nerve fibers after injury and under disease-like conditions, with the aim of finding new ideas to protect or repair neurons.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Temple Univ of the Commonwealth NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | June 15, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $435,875 |
| NIH project number | 1R21NS149559-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11387968 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patient recruitment in this specific R21 grant report; results may inform future studies involving individuals with nerve injury.
✕Less likely to help
The study itself does not involve patient participation at this stage.
What this research studies
If you or a loved one has nerve injury or related neurodegenerative concerns, this research looks at the signals that travel from damaged nerve endings back to the nerve cell bodies. The scientists will study how DLK/JNK activity changes in healthy versus damaged distal axons and test whether certain phosphorylation events control axon survival and degeneration. They plan targeted experiments to identify key substrates that could become new therapeutic targets to preserve axons or promote repair. The work builds on advanced protein-phosphorylation analysis to uncover mechanisms that could eventually translate into safer, more effective treatments for nervous system injuries.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding these signals could lead to new strategies to protect axons or slow degeneration after injury.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has begun mapping DLK/JNK pathways, with emerging evidence that these signals influence axon survival and degeneration; this proposal extends those findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Temple Univ of the Commonwealth
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thomas, Gareth — Temple Univ of the Commonwealth
- Study coordinator: Thomas, Gareth
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.