New technology to test existing drugs for spinal cord injury treatment
Official title: A novel adult neurons screening technology to repurpose FDA-approved drugs for spinal cord injury
Funded at Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr · NIH-10811050 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for better ways to test existing medications that might help people with spinal cord injuries recover by using adult nerve cells that more closely match the patients' age and gender.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Station, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $411,136 |
| NIH project number | 1R21NS131834-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10811050 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who have experienced spinal cord injuries.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with spinal cord injuries who are under 21 years old or those with conditions unrelated to spinal cord injury may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a novel screening technology that uses adult neurons to test FDA-approved drugs for their potential to treat spinal cord injuries (SCI). By utilizing neural cells that better represent the age and sex demographics of SCI patients, the study aims to improve the accuracy of drug screening and increase the chances of finding effective treatments. The approach addresses the limitations of current screening methods, which often rely on embryonic or immature cells, leading to low success rates in clinical applications. The ultimate goal is to identify new therapeutic options that can enhance recovery for individuals suffering from paralysis due to SCI.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to effective treatments for spinal cord injury, significantly improving recovery outcomes for patients.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using age- and sex-appropriate screening is innovative, similar methodologies have shown promise in other areas of drug repurposing, indicating potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr
College Station, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Geoffroy, Cedric G — Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr
- Study coordinator: Geoffroy, Cedric G
Related research
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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.