Normobaric Oxygen Therapy to Protect Breathing After Spinal Cord Injury
Official title: Normobaric Oxygen Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury
Funded at University of Florida · NIH-11365957 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in people with cervical spinal cord injuries tests whether giving 100% oxygen at normal pressure right after injury can reduce inflammation and help preserve breathing.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project start | August 3, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $579,642 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS139422-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11365957 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with acute cervical spinal cord injury who are eligible for oxygen therapy trials could participate.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with injuries outside the cervical region or those unable to tolerate high-concentration oxygen may not benefit.
What this research studies
Spinal cord injuries cut off blood flow and rapidly drop oxygen in the damaged area, leading to further damage. This project tests whether delivering oxygen at normal atmospheric pressure soon after injury can lessen inflammation driven by microglia and save breathing ability. Researchers will compare the effects of normobaric oxygen on spinal oxygen levels, inflammatory markers, and respiratory function in a cervical SCI model. The work builds on prior data suggesting benefits of high-oxygen therapy but aims to achieve similar effects without the complexity of hyperbaric treatment. If successful, this approach could provide a practical therapy to improve outcomes after cervical SCI.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with cervical SCI could recover breathing and reduce long-term nerve damage through a simple oxygen therapy approach.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier hyperbaric oxygen studies showed anti-inflammatory effects, but this study seeks benefits with normobaric oxygen, which is less complex to administer.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Florida
Gainesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fuller, David D — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Fuller, David D
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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.