Using cell transplants and exercise to improve heart function after spinal cord injury
Official title: Combining Serotonergic Neural Progenitor Transplantation and Exercise to Improve Cardiac Disorders and Autonomic Dysreflexia After Spinal Cord Injury
Funded at University of Missouri-Columbia · NIH-11042177 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at whether putting special nerve cells into the spinal cord, along with exercise, can help improve heart function and blood pressure for people with spinal cord injuries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Missouri-Columbia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbia, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $348,125 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS121336-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11042177 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have experienced high-level spinal cord injuries and are experiencing cardiac disorders or autonomic dysreflexia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with low-level spinal cord injuries or those without significant cardiac dysfunction may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how transplanting serotonergic neural progenitor cells into the spinal cord, combined with exercise, can improve heart function and regulate blood pressure in patients with spinal cord injuries. The study aims to restore sympathetic nervous system control over cardiac activity, which is often disrupted after such injuries. By integrating these transplanted cells with the existing spinal cord circuitry and promoting recovery through exercise, the researchers hope to enhance overall cardiovascular health and reduce complications like autonomic dysreflexia.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved heart function and better management of blood pressure for patients with spinal cord injuries.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using cell transplants and exercise to enhance recovery in similar contexts, suggesting a potential for success in this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hou, Shaoping — University of Missouri-Columbia
- Study coordinator: Hou, Shaoping
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Corticospinal neurons and recovery of precise forelimb movement after spinal cord injury
This project studies how spine injuries change brain circuits and whether targeted rehabilitation helps restore precise forelimb movement.
-
How baclofen and spinal cord stimulation interact in people with spinal cord injury
This study looks at how a common antispasmodic medicine (baclofen) works together with spinal cord stimulation in people who have spinal cord injuries and live with spasticity.
-
Targeting spinal cord inflammation with a new HuR inhibitor to help SCI patients
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.
-
From Neural Control of Movement to Treatments for Spinal Cord Injury
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.
-
Polaris: a compact system to help motor recovery after spinal cord injury and stroke
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.
-
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.