Removing harmful iron after neck spinal cord injury
Preclinical evaluation of efficacy and safety of a new iron chelator therapy in chronic spinal cord injury
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION · NIH-11220688
A new drug that clears toxic iron, combined with movement training, to help people with chronic neck spinal cord injuries.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (GAINESVILLE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11220688 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This project tests a patented drug called SP420 that removes free iron released by bleeding inside the injured spinal cord, using a rat model of cervical (neck) injury. Researchers will give SP420 alone or together with a planned locomotor (movement) therapy to see whether the treatments reduce oxidative stress and inflammation and protect nerve and blood vessel tissue. The team will measure safety outcomes and whether the combined treatment leads to better long-term movement and less spasticity than controls. Positive preclinical results would support moving this approach toward human testing.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with chronic cervical (neck) spinal cord injury who have ongoing movement problems and evidence of prior spinal cord bleeding would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: Those with very recent (acute) injuries, non-hemorrhagic nerve problems, or only mild injuries are unlikely to benefit from this preclinical therapy at present.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could slow ongoing damage after spinal cord injury and improve long-term movement and spasticity.
How similar studies have performed: Related iron-chelation approaches have shown promise in animal models of hemorrhagic neural injury, but translation to humans with chronic spinal cord injury remains limited.
Where this research is happening
GAINESVILLE, UNITED STATES
- VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION — GAINESVILLE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: BOSE, PRODIP K. — VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
- Study coordinator: BOSE, PRODIP K.
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.