How aging affects spinal cord injury recovery through macrophage metabolism
Official title: The role of macrophage metabolism and age in recovery from spinal cord injury
Funded at University of Kentucky · NIH-11364068 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aging may change how immune cells called macrophages work after spinal cord injury, and this grant tests a new approach to help recovery by tweaking their metabolism.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kentucky NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lexington, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $540,941 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS126228-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11364068 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be individuals with spinal cord injury or at risk of SCI-related inflammation, particularly in the context of aging.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with SCI who do not have age-related inflammatory differences or those outside the study's focus may not receive the proposed metabolic benefits.
What this research studies
This project focuses on older and younger subjects to understand how aging alters macrophage energy use after spinal cord injury. Researchers will examine how the pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) pathway controls whether macrophages promote inflammation or support repair, and whether inhibiting PDK can shift metabolism toward restoring function. The work uses animal models to study macrophage behavior, energy pathways, and recovery outcomes after SCI, with careful measurement of inflammation and tissue repair. If successful, the findings could guide strategies to improve healing in patients with SCI as they age.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to new treatments that improve recovery after spinal cord injury for older adults by guiding macrophages toward repair.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have linked macrophage metabolism to inflammation and injury outcomes, with some success in modulating metabolism to influence repair.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kentucky
Lexington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gensel, John C — University of Kentucky
- Study coordinator: Gensel, John C
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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.