Spinal cord injury

Analyse European Multicenter Study about Spinal Cord Injury datasets to predict neurological recovery and functional outcomes. Tasks span data harmonisation, feature engineering, regression, survival analysis and machine learning, with reproducible R/Python workflows. Work with clinicians and international collaborators on publications and coordinate scientific meetings and project activities. The appointment is 80–100% for one year, with a possible further year; the laboratory is based in Schlieren. The application portal remains open without a stated deadline, despite the advertised 1 Octobe

Astrocytes help sustain neural signaling and tissue stability, but injury and implanted devices cause them to change their functions. Tim O'Shea examines how the extent and timing of this response determine tissue protection, regeneration and implant durability. Limited renewal of adult astrocytes contrasts with the greater proliferation and migration of immature cells in newborn mammals. Around implants, continuing movement, infection and other stimuli can prolong the response and affect device performance. The talk uses astrocyte-specific transcriptomic assays to investigate this reprogrammi

…with work on restoring movement after spinal-cord injury.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) in mammals leads to a series of cellular and molecular changes affecting self-repair. The breakdown of the blood-spinal cord barrier allows immune cells infiltration secreting various cytokines that, together with neural cells particularly activated microglia, will spread inflammation and aggravate the neurological deficits. Infiltrated immune cells include neutrophils, monocyte-derived macrophages, and T-cells. Most of preclinical studies evaluated this response in two SCI models: contusion (CT) and transection (TS); having distinct mechanical action modes on spinal c

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition of the CNS for which there are no restorative therapies. Neuronal death at the primary lesion site and in remote regions that are functionally connected to it is one of the major contributors to neurological deficits induced by SCI. In this study we examined the crosstalk between mitochondria and the epigenome, defined as “mitonuclear communication” and its contribution to the remote damage-induced by SCI in the red nucleus (RN) contralateral to the injury site. Using a mouse model of SCI, we performed RNA-seq analysis on RN isolated from con

The clinical challenge posed by spinal cord injury (SCI) remains a significant and unresolved issue. Engineering a treatment for SCI will require biological repair interventions that restore connectivity through or around lesions. Using a combination of advanced neuroanatomical viral tract tracing, projection-specific and comparative single-nucleus RNA sequencing, bioinformatic techniques, we recently identified a molecularly defined subpopulation of excitatory projection neuron in the mid-thoracic spinal cord that extend axons to the lumbar spinal cord where walking execution centers reside.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in the rupture of blood vessels and bleeding inside the spinal cord, as well as the release of alarmins from necrotic cells, leading to neuroinflammation and disruption of blood-spinal cord barriers. This increased permeability of the blood vessel walls allows for the entry of blood substances into the spinal cord parenchyma. Among these substances is immunoglobulin G (IgG). To understand the role of IgG, we performed immunofluorescence (IF) against IgG at 1 hour, 24 hours, and 7 days post-injury, both near and far from the lesion, in a mouse model of T9-T10 sp

Spasticity is motor dysfunction after Spinal cord injury (SCI). Current treatments of spasticity focusing on muscle contraction have some issues (Figure.1). Phospholipase D coupled metabotropic receptor expresses in Ia fiber endings in muscle spindle and enhances Ia fiber activity. Dihydroxyphenyl glycine (DHPG) work as the antagonist of it. We hypothesized that inhibition of Ia fiber activity using DHPG reduce spasticity. Aim of this study is to confirm effect of continuous inhibition of Ia fiber activity on spasticity symptom and Ia-α connection after SCI. SCI models were made by semi-transe

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe condition associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. As of now, no effective therapies are available. However, induced neural stem cells (iNSCs) offer a promising therapeutic approach by enabling autologous transplantation.In the subchronic phase 30 days post-SCI, we conducted the transplantation of fGFP-labelled human iNSCs (or vehicle) into female Fischer-344 rats with moderate to severe spinal cord injuries at the T8 level. One day prior to cell transplantation, immunosuppressive treatment was started and maintained to prevent graft rejection th

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) leads to significant motor deficits, but is often incomplete with spared fibers across the lesion and intact sensory feedback reaching the spinal circuits. This study seeks to enhance the integration of residual supraspinal commands with spinal-level sensory input to improve motor function by inducing adaptive plasticity within the neuronal networks below the site of injury. To selectively increase the supraspinal locomotor drive, we targeted the cuneiform nucleus (CnF) using viral vector delivery of optogenetic activators in a thoracic incomplete SCI mouse model. Phys

…the functional repair after the spinal cord injury (SCI). It is known that the cellular concentrations of anti-oxidant dipeptide carnosine can be easily increased in dose-dependent manner by food or nutrition supplements. Current study investigated the effect of six-week carnosine treatments on cellular expressions of brain- and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factors (BDNF, GDNF) following contusion SCI. In contrast to naïve control group, the SCI caused the

…drug atorvastatin (ATR) following spinal cord injury (SCI). Using an isoflurane anesthesia, we induced SCI at the T9 segment with a compression device for 15 minutes under a 40g weight. An oscillating field stimulator (OFS) implanted subcutaneously delivered a weak electric current (50 µA), alternating polarity every 15 minutes for 6 weeks to encourage axonal growth from the lesion site. Wistar albino female rats were randomly divided to four gr

…to improve functional recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI). Its mechanism of action promotes the regeneration and repair of damaged spinal cord tissue by regulating the differentiation and growth of glial cells and regulates the interaction between neurons and glial cells. However, very few studies on endogenous Noggin have been reported, and the available studies are limited to the therapeutic effects of exogenous Noggin. Therefore, we explored the expressi

In western nations, the average age of spinal cord injury (SCI) has increased and is equally spread out between 20-65 years old. SCI typically causes focal demyelination of spared axons near the site of injury. Surprisingly, we did not find locomotor impairment after SCI when remyelination was inhibited in young mice (Duncan et al. 2018, Nat. Comm). However, the functional impact of remyelination after SCI at an advanced age is unknown. Here, we assessed the importance of remyelination for locomotor recovery, cognitive function, and anxiety in young (3-5 month) and aged (15-18 month) mice of b

A spinal cord injury (SCI) triggers a multifaceted series of secondary injuries, involving inflammation, cell death, demyelination, and scar formation. How the individual types and subtypes of cells of the central nervous system coordinate to mediate this response remains unclear. While much of our current knowledge is derived from rodents, therapies effective in these models have not translated successfully to clinical trials. Understanding molecular responses across species—lower vertebrates, non-primate mammals, and primates—is crucial for formulating effective human treatments. We aim to u

Spinal cord injury immediately impairs movement control and other essential physiological functions. Evidence has shown that a large-scale network including spinal and supraspinal structures is recruited after SCI to promote functional recovery. Orexins (hypocretins), known for promoting wakefulness, arousal, and reward-seeking behaviours, also influence muscular tone, locomotion initiation, and skilled performance, exerting a multi-systemic effect on motor control predisposing for movement execution. Despite the potential relevance of orexin transmission in motor recovery after CNS damage, th

Aim: Spinal cord injury (SCI) triggers inflammatory response by activation and accumulation radical oxygen species (ROS). Cell therapy has no effective long term recovery outcomes due to presence of ROS in lesion site increase the death rate of transplanted cells.One efficient approach to address this issue is adding adjuvants like neurotrophic factors and antioxidants, among them melatonin has been reported to play a key role in neuroprotectection. The melatonergic treatment is remarkably associated with scavenger oxidative stress and cell proliferation. The purpose of this study is the impac

3D printed scaffold represents a promising approach for treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI). Here we suggest an innovative biotechnological approach for free-form 3D printing of scaffolds with a biomimetic architecture at a spatial resolution up to a micrometer, which were used for implantation in treatment of SCI in one-month-old Wistar rats. The approach is based on 2-photon photopolymerization of organic polymers and is scalable to lesion geometries. The scaffolds were implemented as multiple densely packed parallel micro-tunnels (~50 μm) running through their whole length. Having thin wa

…with stroke [Meyers, 2024, JNER] and spinal cord injury (SCI) [Lu, 2019, JNE; Ting, 2021, J Neurophysiol.] using either standard bipolar EMG electrodes or a high-density

Spinal cord injury (SCI) initiates a series of sensory, motor, and autonomic dysfunctions induced by the disconnection of the brain-spinal cord axis. In this context, Piezo4Spine PathFinder project (GA 101098597) aims to develop a multifactorial therapy for SCI using biocompatible and biodegradable materials containing nanoparticles loaded with therapeutic agents that will be controlled delivered at the injury site. With this strategy, our purpose is to promote axonal regeneration and connectivity of the brain-spinal cord axis to recover sensory and motor functions. We have designed and analys

…stimulation (EES) of the thoracic spinal cord regulates blood pressure, leading to the development of a neuroprosthetic baroreflex effective across multiple spe

Spinal cord injury (SCI) causes permanent dysfunction in the body movement and sensation. It is well known that recovery becomes more difficult as time passes from injury. Even with the power of stem cell transplant, it is still hard to cure the late phase of SCI. Despite the difficulty, majority of patients suffering from SCI are clinically late phase. Thus, overcoming the late phase of SCI is an important mission. CPTX is the structurally guided synthetic peptide that joins the pre-synaptic neurexin and the post-synaptic AMPA receptors (Suzuki, Sasakura et al., Science, (2020)). We previousl

…nerve repair therapy, particularly for spinal cord injury (SCI), owing to their intrinsic regenerative capacity within the olfactory system. Perineural fibroblasts are natural partners of OECs within the olfactory nerve and co-transplantation with OECs may improve transplantation repair outcomes. However, little is known about the natural interactions of OECs and fibroblasts during the chaotic state following an injury. Using a mouse model, we temporarily damaged the olfactory nerves using methimazole. At key stages of

Spinal cord injury represents a complex and serious medical condition characterized by damage to the spinal cord, causing profound functional impairment. The consequences of such an injury may include paralysis, loss of sensation, and disruptions in vital bodily functions, such as bladder and bowel control. The renin-angiotensin system, predominantly acting through the AT1 receptor, regulates blood pressure and hydro-electrolytic balance. However, the AT2 receptor (AT2R) also plays a crucial role, especially in processes related to neuroregeneration. In the present study, the AT2R was stimulat