Imaging signs of cervical spinal cord degeneration (DCM)
Structural and functional imaging markers in Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy
Using advanced MRI scans to find imaging signs that show how the spinal cord is harmed and who might improve after treatment for people with degenerative cervical myelopathy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oklahoma City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11169769 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would have specialized MRI scans of your neck and spinal cord that look at both the white matter pathways and gray matter activity using new imaging methods. The team will follow a Consensus spine imaging protocol and compare these advanced measures to standard MRI findings and patient symptoms. They will use tract-specific white matter imaging, spinal cord size measurements, and a novel spinal cord fMRI approach to look for patterns linked to ongoing injury and recovery. The goal is to translate those imaging patterns into clearer information about disease progression and likely treatment response.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with degenerative cervical myelopathy or symptomatic cervical spinal cord compression who can undergo MRI would be the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without cervical compressive myelopathy, those with non-degenerative causes of symptoms, or anyone unable to have MRI scans (for example due to incompatible implants or severe claustrophobia) are unlikely to benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help doctors better identify which patients are experiencing active spinal cord injury and who is most likely to benefit from surgery or other treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Previous smaller studies, including the PI's earlier work, have shown promising results for white matter imaging and cord morphometrics, but tract-specific spinal cord imaging and fMRI in DCM remain relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Oklahoma City, United States
- University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr — Oklahoma City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Smith, Zachary — University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr
- Study coordinator: Smith, Zachary
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.