How tiny notochord vacuoles help build the spine and discs
Regulation of notochord vacuole biogenesis: investigating its role in spine formation and IVD Biology
['FUNDING_R01'] · DUKE UNIVERSITY · NIH-11249180
This work looks at how special fluid-filled notochord cells shape vertebrae and the soft discs between them to better understand birth-related spine defects and age-related disc degeneration.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | DUKE UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (DURHAM, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11249180 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Scientists at Duke will use animal models (zebrafish and mice) and molecular cell biology to follow how notochord vacuoles form and remain intact during development and adulthood. They will test what happens when vacuole formation or integrity is disrupted and link those changes to vertebral patterning and disc cell behavior. The team will identify genes and cellular pathways that control vacuole biogenesis and examine connections to intervertebral disc degeneration with aging. Results will be compared to known human spine conditions to highlight molecular processes that could matter for people with congenital scoliosis or disc disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People born with congenital scoliosis and adults with degenerative intervertebral disc disease are the most likely patient groups to benefit from findings or to be candidates for future related clinical studies.
Not a fit: Patients with spine problems unrelated to notochord-derived disc degeneration (for example traumatic fractures, infections, or purely muscular pain) are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this preclinical laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal molecular targets and pathways that lead to new ways to prevent or treat congenital spine malformations and intervertebral disc degeneration.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work in zebrafish has shown that notochord vacuole defects can cause vertebral patterning problems, but translating those findings to mammals and human disc degeneration remains largely untested and novel.
Where this research is happening
DURHAM, UNITED STATES
- DUKE UNIVERSITY — DURHAM, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: BAGNAT, MICHEL — DUKE UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: BAGNAT, MICHEL
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.