Immune cells that help the spinal cord repair
Official title: Immune regulation of spinal cord regeneration
Funded at University of Notre Dame · NIH-11416966 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are learning how certain immune cells support spinal cord healing to help adults with spinal cord injuries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Notre Dame NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Notre Dame, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 4R00NS133484-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11416966 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with spinal cord injuries are the group most likely to benefit from therapies developed from this work.
✕Less likely to help
People without spinal cord injury or those seeking an immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to benefit directly since this is early laboratory research.
What this research studies
From my perspective as a patient, the team uses zebrafish — animals that can naturally regrow a severed spinal cord — to discover immune signals that promote repair. They will study microglia and macrophages after injury, measure those cells' gene activity, and change specific genes or cell behaviors to see what improves recovery. The work combines molecular profiling, targeted cell manipulation, and tests of movement to link immune cell programs with functional repair. Findings aim to point to immune pathways that could be targeted in future treatments for people with spinal cord injuries.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal immune pathways that lead to new treatments to improve nerve repair and recovery after spinal cord injury.
How similar studies have gone: Zebrafish are a proven model for spinal cord regeneration and some immune-based approaches showed promise in animals, but translation to human treatments remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shaw, Dana Nicole — University of Notre Dame
- Study coordinator: Shaw, Dana Nicole
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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.