How fish support cells help spinal cords heal
Glial cell responses promote spinal cord repair in zebrafish
['FUNDING_R01'] · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · NIH-11345431
Researchers are learning how support cells in zebrafish reconnect and repair injured spinal cords to inspire new ideas for treating people with spinal cord injury.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (SAINT LOUIS, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11345431 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This work uses zebrafish, animals that naturally regrow spinal cords, to watch how glial (support) cells form a bridging structure after injury. Scientists will study the earliest cellular responses that start the bridge, compare the bridge-forming glia in fish to mammalian glia, and identify the signals that cause the bridge to dismantle once repair is done. The team will use imaging, molecular profiling, and experimental manipulations in zebrafish to map the key cells and pathways. Findings aim to reveal targets that could one day be tested in therapies for human spinal cord injury.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults living with spinal cord injury who want to follow basic research progress and possibly join future clinical trials based on these findings may be most interested.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate treatments or current participation opportunities should not expect direct benefit because this work is lab-based in fish models.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could pinpoint molecules or processes that guide spinal cord repair and lead to new treatment strategies for people with spinal cord injuries.
How similar studies have performed: Zebrafish spinal cord regeneration is a well-established model that has revealed promising repair mechanisms, but the specific role and mechanisms of glial bridging are still relatively novel and understudied.
Where this research is happening
SAINT LOUIS, UNITED STATES
- WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY — SAINT LOUIS, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: MOKALLED, MAYSSA H. — WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: MOKALLED, MAYSSA H.
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 below.