Human stem-cell models of spinal cord midline nerve crossing
Human cellular model of midline crossing to study developmental neurological disorders
['FUNDING_R01'] · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · NIH-11235854
Researchers are building lab-grown human spinal cord tissues to recreate how nerve fibers cross the midline, with the goal of helping people with developmental wiring disorders of the brain and spine.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | STANFORD UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (STANFORD, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11235854 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Scientists will grow human stem-cell-derived mini-tissues (organoids) that mimic parts of the developing spinal cord, including the floor plate. They will join pairs of these organoids into "assembloids" to recreate the midline where nerve fibers normally cross from one side to the other. The team will watch axons grow across the midline and use gene-editing to remove genes linked to developmental neurological disorders to see how crossing is disrupted. This lab model aims to identify the signals and genes needed for normal nerve wiring and to create a platform for studying disease mechanisms.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People affected by congenital midline connectivity disorders—for example certain forms of corpus callosum agenesis, spinal cord midline crossing defects, or other developmental wiring syndromes—would be most relevant to this research.
Not a fit: Patients with adult-acquired neurodegenerative diseases or peripheral nerve injuries unrelated to developmental midline wiring are unlikely to receive direct benefits from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal how genetic defects disrupt nerve crossing and point to targets for future therapies for congenital neuronal wiring disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Organoid and assembloid approaches have successfully modeled aspects of human brain development and some disease genes, but a self-organizing human model focused specifically on spinal midline crossing is largely novel.
Where this research is happening
STANFORD, UNITED STATES
- STANFORD UNIVERSITY — STANFORD, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: PASCA, SERGIU — STANFORD UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: PASCA, SERGIU
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.