Understanding how the spinal cord controls breathing after injury
Official title: Respiratory motor control in the intact and injured spinal cord
Funded at Drexel University · NIH-10811209 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the spinal cord helps us breathe, especially after injuries that make it hard to breathe, by observing rats with similar injuries to find out how breathing can get better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Drexel University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | September 11, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $405,625 |
| NIH project number | 1R21NS131962-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10811209 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have experienced cervical spinal cord injuries and suffer from respiratory deficits.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with respiratory issues not related to spinal cord injuries may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the spinal cord regulates breathing, particularly after injuries that affect respiratory function. By studying rats with cervical spinal cord injuries, the researchers aim to uncover the mechanisms behind respiratory recovery and deficits. They will record electrical activity from respiratory muscles and analyze this data to identify patterns that control different breathing behaviors. This approach could provide insights into how breathing can improve following spinal cord injuries.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies that enhance respiratory recovery in patients with spinal cord injuries.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding motor control in other contexts, but this specific approach to respiratory control post-spinal cord injury is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Drexel University
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bezdudnaya, Tatiana — Drexel University
- Study coordinator: Bezdudnaya, Tatiana
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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.