How the body‑clock gene BMAL1 affects nerve regrowth and repair
The Role of Core Circadian Regulator Bmal1 in Axonal Regeneration and Nerve Repair
This project looks at whether changing the body‑clock gene BMAL1 can help nerves regrow better after peripheral nerve injury.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11285380 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you’ve had a peripheral nerve injury, this research explores a gene called BMAL1 that helps set the cell’s internal clock and may change how nerves heal. In the lab, researchers remove BMAL1 in nerve cells in animal models and study how that change speeds axon regrowth. They map epigenetic markers (like 5hmC) in sensory neurons and study how BMAL1 interacts with the enzyme Tet3 to turn on genes linked to growth, metabolism, and immune signals. The team also looks at daily (diurnal) rhythms in these epigenetic signals to see if timing affects repair.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with recent or chronic peripheral nerve injuries (for example traumatic nerve damage in an arm or leg or patients undergoing nerve repair surgery) would be the most relevant patient group for future related studies.
Not a fit: Patients with central nervous system injuries (spinal cord or brain injuries) or conditions unrelated to peripheral nerve axon regeneration are unlikely to benefit directly from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new treatments or timing strategies that improve nerve regeneration and recovery after peripheral nerve injuries.
How similar studies have performed: This line of work builds on prior epigenetic studies of nerve regeneration, but BMAL1’s specific role in speeding axon regrowth is a new finding shown so far in preclinical models.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zou, Hongyan Jenny — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Zou, Hongyan Jenny
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.