NIH-funded research R01 grant

Role of CPT1 activation in spinal cord injury

Official title: Role of CPT1 activation in the pathogenesis of spinal cord injury

Funded at Indiana University Indianapolis · NIH-11449353 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This grant looks at how activating CPT1, a key enzyme in fat metabolism, may influence recovery after spinal cord injury in adults.

More Spinal Cord Injury research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionIndiana University Indianapolis
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Indianapolis, United States)
Project startAugust 15, 2026
Project endMay 31, 2031
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$547,099
NIH project number1R01NS144670-01A1
Project IDNIH-11449353 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Adults with acute or recent spinal cord injury who could participate in metabolic or biomarker studies.

Less likely to help

Patients whose injury biology does not involve CPT1-related pathways may not benefit.

What this research studies

Traumatic spinal cord injury causes serious, lasting problems and there aren’t good treatments yet. The project focuses on how lipid metabolism and fatty acid breakdown affect damage and signaling in the injured nervous system. By studying CPT1’s role in mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation, researchers hope to identify pathways that could be targeted to improve function after SCI. The work combines molecular and cellular approaches to understand how metabolic changes influence nerve cell survival and repair. If successful, it could point to new strategies to protect neurons and support recovery.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: Potential new metabolic targets to improve outcomes after spinal cord injury.

How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests lipid metabolism influences CNS injury, but this project explores CPT1-specific mechanisms, which is more targeted.

Where this research is happening

  • Indiana University Indianapolis
    Indianapolis, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Liu, Nai-Kui — Indiana University Indianapolis
  • Study coordinator: Liu, Nai-Kui

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.