How zebrafish repair injured spinal cords
Potency and contribution of zebrafish progenitors during innate spinal cord repair
Researchers are learning how zebrafish naturally heal spinal cord injuries to inspire new treatments for people with spinal cord damage.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11309571 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses zebrafish, which can naturally regrow spinal cord tissue, to study the cells and molecules that enable recovery. Scientists will track and manipulate progenitor cells that produce new neurons and glia after injury to determine which cell types drive repair. The team will use cell-specific labeling, targeted cell ablation, and molecular analyses to map the regenerative pathways. Results are intended to reveal mechanisms that could guide approaches to stimulate repair in mammals.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with spinal cord injury (recent or chronic) who are interested in future regenerative treatments would be the eventual candidates for therapies inspired by this work.
Not a fit: Because this is basic animal research, patients seeking immediate therapies or those with non-spinal neurological disorders will not directly benefit from the project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to ways to stimulate spinal cord repair in people and improve recovery after spinal cord injury.
How similar studies have performed: Zebrafish models have repeatedly shown robust spinal regeneration and prior studies have identified regenerative cell responses, but translating those findings into effective mammalian therapies remains largely unproven.
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.