Understanding how certain animals can regenerate their nervous systems
Official title: Mechanisms of Network-Scale Neural Regeneration in a New Neuroscience Model
Funded at Massachusetts Institute of Technology · NIH-11103694 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain animals can heal their nervous systems after getting hurt, using a special type of jellyfish called Clytia, and it hopes to find ways to help people recover from nerve damage too.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $397,500 |
| NIH project number | 1R01NS141960-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11103694 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for benefiting from this research would include individuals with nerve injuries or conditions that affect the nervous system.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with stable, non-regenerative neurological conditions may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the mechanisms that allow some animals to regenerate their nervous systems after injury. Using a new animal model called Clytia, which can regenerate neural subnetworks, the research aims to uncover the biological processes that enable this regeneration. By employing advanced techniques like calcium imaging and single-cell RNA sequencing, the study will explore how neural injuries are sensed and how the body responds to promote healing. This could lead to insights that are applicable to human medicine, particularly in treating nerve damage.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to breakthroughs in regenerative medicine, particularly for patients with nerve injuries or neurodegenerative diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in understanding regeneration in various species, but this specific approach using the Clytia model is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weissbourd, Brandon — Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Weissbourd, Brandon
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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.