Using the body clock to reduce inflammation after spinal cord injury
Circadian control of neuroinflammation after spinal cord injury
This project tries using a body‑clock protein called REV‑ERB to calm harmful inflammation and help people recover after a spinal cord injury.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas at Austin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Austin, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11301025 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will study how the body's internal clock controls immune responses after spinal cord injury and focus on a protein called REV‑ERB that can quiet reactive immune cells. In laboratory experiments and preclinical models they will activate REV‑ERB and measure inflammation, tissue protection at the injury site, and recovery of movement and behavior. The team will link molecular, anatomical, and functional outcomes to see if targeting the circadian‑immune axis reduces the secondary damage that follows spinal cord trauma. Results are intended to guide development of treatments to protect the spinal cord and improve neurological recovery.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have recently experienced a spinal cord injury and are in the early stages of recovery with signs of inflammation would be the most relevant candidates for related future trials.
Not a fit: Patients with long‑standing, chronic spinal cord injuries or those far beyond the acute inflammatory window may be less likely to benefit from treatments aimed at early inflammation control.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new therapies that limit secondary injury and improve neurological and functional recovery after spinal cord damage.
How similar studies have performed: Early preclinical work shows that activating REV‑ERB can reduce macrophage and microglial reactivity and improve locomotor recovery in animal models, though human testing has not yet occurred.
Where this research is happening
Austin, United States
- University of Texas at Austin — Austin, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gaudet, Andrew David — University of Texas at Austin
- Study coordinator: Gaudet, Andrew David
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.