Understanding how spinal cord injuries affect nerve recovery.
Official title: Propriospinal Plasticity and Recovery After Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury.
Funded at University of Louisville · NIH-11223778 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain nerve cells in the spinal cord change after an injury and how those changes can affect recovery, with the goal of finding better ways to help people heal from spinal cord injuries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Louisville NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Louisville, United States) |
| Project start | June 3, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $462,296 |
| NIH project number | 1R01NS141156-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11223778 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals aged 21 and older who have experienced an incomplete spinal cord injury.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with complete spinal cord injuries or those under 21 years old may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how certain neurons in the spinal cord change after an injury and how these changes can either help or hinder recovery. By using advanced techniques to trace and silence specific spinal cord neurons in animal models, the study aims to link anatomical changes to functional outcomes. The researchers will analyze the anatomy of these neurons before and after different types of spinal cord injuries, using innovative imaging methods and locomotor analysis to assess recovery. This approach could provide insights into improving rehabilitation strategies for individuals with spinal cord injuries.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies that enhance recovery after spinal cord injuries.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding spinal cord plasticity, but this specific approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Louisville
Louisville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Magnuson, David Sk — University of Louisville
- Study coordinator: Magnuson, David Sk
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Corticospinal neurons and recovery of precise forelimb movement after spinal cord injury
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A new treatment approach uses a small molecule to block a brain-spinal inflammation regulator (HuR) that drives harmful inflammation after spinal cord injury, aiming to lessen damage and pain for people with SCI.
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A patient-focused project aims to translate how brain signals control movement after spinal cord injury into new treatments that improve muscle function and reduce spasticity.
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A new, easy-to-use device called Polaris may help people with spinal cord injury, stroke, or other chronic conditions regain movement by guiding a specialized reflex-based therapy.
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Predicting and Preventing Chronic Aspiration After Traumatic Cervical Spinal Cord Injury
This project looks at swallowing problems and chronic aspiration in adults with traumatic neck spine injuries to find patterns that could prevent serious lung complications.
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.