How support cells and their tiny antennae help repair myelin after white matter injury
Mechanisms of oligodendroglial ciliary function in white matter injury repair
This project looks at how support cells called oligodendrocyte precursor cells and their tiny antenna-like structures help rebuild the protective myelin coating after white matter injury in conditions like multiple sclerosis and some newborn brain injuries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11318897 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers at UCSF will study oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) and the primary cilia—small antenna-like structures—that help OPCs sense signals in damaged white matter. They will use genetic tools to remove or alter cilia in lab models and trace a signaling pathway (GPCR → cAMP → CREB) that appears to control OPC recruitment and myelin repair. Advanced proximity-labeling and molecular mapping will identify proteins and signals at the cilium that guide OPC behavior. The goal is to find points where future therapies could help OPCs reach injury sites and rebuild myelin.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People affected by white matter damage such as adults with multiple sclerosis or individuals with white-matter injury-related cerebral palsy would be the most relevant patient groups for eventual therapies stemming from this work.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions are driven mainly by non-white-matter problems or whose damage is too advanced for remyelination are less likely to benefit directly from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new targets or treatments that help OPCs remyelinate damaged white matter, potentially improving recovery and slowing progression in diseases like multiple sclerosis and some forms of cerebral palsy.
How similar studies have performed: Prior preclinical work shows that enhancing OPC function can improve remyelination in animal models, but targeting primary cilia and the GPCR/cAMP/CREB signaling axis is a newer, largely preclinical approach.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fancy, Stephen Philip James — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Fancy, Stephen Philip James
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.