Spinal stimulation to rebuild nerve connections after cervical spinal cord injury
Stimulation-based strategies for forming new lesion-bridging circuitry and optimizing functional recovery after spinal cord injury
This research will see if repeated light-based spinal stimulation, alone or combined with a growth-promoting peptide called ISP, helps nerves reconnect and improves arm and hand movement after severe cervical spinal cord injury.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11110425 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my perspective, the team uses optogenetic (light-based) spinal stimulation in a rat model of severe cervical spinal cord injury to try to promote new nerve connections across the lesion. They will test whether increasing the number of weekly stimulation sessions (from once to up to four times per week) improves recovery on several forelimb tasks. The researchers will also give a peptide called ISP that can reduce molecules that block nerve regrowth, and compare stimulation alone versus stimulation plus ISP. The goal is to find stimulation schedules and combination treatments that produce stronger nerve regrowth and better arm function, with the hope of guiding future human therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with severe cervical spinal cord injuries that cause arm and hand weakness or paralysis would be the eventual target group for therapies based on this work.
Not a fit: Those with non-spinal injuries, very old or unstable medical conditions, or injuries that do not affect cervical spinal circuits may not benefit from these specific approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new therapies that help rebuild nerve circuits and improve arm and hand function after severe cervical spinal cord injuries.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal work showed optogenetic spinal stimulation can boost axon growth and functional recovery after moderate cervical injuries, but benefits were smaller in more severe injuries and combining stimulation with ISP is a newer, less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- University of Washington — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mondello, Sarah E. — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Mondello, Sarah E.
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.