New immune-guardian approach to protect the spinal cord after injury
Official title: The novel role of perivascular fibroblasts in secondary injury after cervical SCI
Funded at Florida International University · NIH-11376637 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aimed at people with spinal cord injury, this grant tests whether blocking a specific protein (PI16) in perivascular cells can protect the spinal cord barrier and reduce damage after injury.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Florida International University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Miami, United States) |
| Project start | May 13, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $471,698 |
| NIH project number | 1R01NS144807-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11376637 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be individuals with acute cervical spinal cord injury in the future translational pipeline or related patient cohorts for future trials.
✕Less likely to help
Early-stage findings in basic models may not yet translate to immediate patient benefit.
What this research studies
Spinal cord injuries can lead to ongoing disability due to secondary damage driven by inflammation. The project will explore how perivascular fibroblasts contribute to barrier breakdown and what role PI16 plays in this process. By using animal models, the researchers will test PI16 inhibitors, including a PI16-neutralizing antibody, to see if they lessen inflammation, scar formation, and tissue damage after injury. If successful, this work could point to a new therapeutic target to improve recovery for SCI patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from new strategies to protect the spinal cord after injury and improve functional outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data in mice suggest that PI16 relates to barrier function and neuroinflammation, supporting potential translational value.
Where this research is happening
-
Florida International University
Miami, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cao, Qi Lin — Florida International University
- Study coordinator: Cao, Qi Lin
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.