R35NS122260

Multicellular Mechanisms Driving Axon Regeneration - Abstract

Permanent disabilities following central nervous system (CNS) injuries result from the failure of injured axons to re-build functional connections. There are currently no therapies to restore mobility and sensation following spinal cord injury or vision after optic nerve damage. The poor intrinsic regenerative capacity of mature CNS neurons is a major contributor to the regeneration failure and remains a major problem in neurobiology.

In contrast, peripheral sensory neurons successfully switch to a regenerative state after axon injury. The long-term goal of my research program is to understand the multicellular mechanisms by which injured sensory neurons activate a pro-regenerative program and identify potential targets for future treatment of CNS injuries.

Activation of an axon growth program relies in part on the expression of regeneration-associated genes. Because individual gene-based approaches have yielded limited success in axon regeneration, we are focusing on epigenomic regulations, which affect globally, yet specifically, a combination of multiple genes. Our goal is to uncover how the epigenetic landscape is re-organized in the context of axon injury to enable axon repair. These studies will incorporate cell-type specific epigenomic analyses to study the transcriptional and chromatin conformation changes elicited by peripheral and central axon injury.

Axon regeneration is not cell autonomous and is influenced by the environment at the level of the axon injury site and at the level of the cell soma. We have recently discovered that satellite glial cells, the main type of glial cells in sensory ganglia, respond to axon injury and contribute to the repair process. We propose to use powerful combinations of tools to pursue an innovative line of research aimed at dissecting the multicellular mechanisms orchestrating axon regeneration and build upon these findings to improve regeneration in CNS models.

To achieve this goal, we will determine the intrinsic neuronal mechanisms controlling axon regeneration, focusing on epigenomics studies. We will elucidate the contribution of the microenvironment surrounding neuronal soma to the axon regeneration process, including satellite glial cells and other non-neuronal cells. To determine if findings made in the mouse model system are predictive of human physiology, we will determine the molecular profile of human cells surrounding sensory neurons.

Finally, we propose to manipulate novel pathways we discover to improve regeneration in two CNS models, spinal cord injury and optic nerve injury. This proposal will use powerful combinations of tools to pursue an innovative line of research aimed at dissecting the multicellular mechanisms orchestrating axon regeneration and build upon these findings to improve regeneration in CNS models.

Washington University

(1) TO SUPPORT EXTRAMURAL RESEARCH FUNDED BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE (NINDS) INCLUDING: BASIC RESEARCH THAT EXPLORES THE FUNDAMENTAL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF THE BRAIN AND THE NERVOUS SYSTEM, RESEARCH TO UNDERSTAND THE CAUSES AND ORIGINS OF PATHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM WITH THE GOAL OF PREVENTING THESE DISORDERS, RESEARCH ON THE NATURAL COURSE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS, IMPROVED METHODS OF DISEASE PREVENTION, NEW METHODS OF DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT, DRUG DEVELOPMENT, DEVELOPMENT OF NEURAL DEVICES, CLINICAL TRIALS, AND RESEARCH TRAINING IN BASIC, TRANSLATIONAL AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE. THE INSTITUTE IS THE LARGEST FUNDER OF BASIC NEUROSCIENCE IN THE US AND SUPPORTS RESEARCH ON TOPICS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: DEVELOPMENT OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM, INCLUDING NEUROGENESIS AND PROGENITOR CELL BIOLOGY, SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION IN DEVELOPMENT AND PLASTICITY, AND PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH, SYNAPSE FORMATION, FUNCTION, AND PLASTICITY, LEARNING AND MEMORY, CHANNELS, TRANSPORTERS, AND PUMPS, CIRCUIT FORMATION AND MODULATION, BEHAVIORAL AND COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE, SENSORIMOTOR LEARNING, INTEGRATION AND EXECUTIVE FUNCTION, NEUROENDOCRINE SYSTEMS, SLEEP AND CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS, AND SENSORY AND MOTOR SYSTEMS. IN ADDITION, THE INSTITUTE SUPPORTS BASIC, TRANSLATIONAL AND CLINICAL STUDIES ON A NUMBER OF DISORDERS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM INCLUDING (BUT NOT LIMITED TO): STROKE, TRAUMATIC INJURY TO THE BRAIN, SPINAL CORD AND PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS, MOVEMENT DISORDERS, BRAIN TUMORS, CONVULSIVE DISORDERS, INFECTIOUS DISORDERS OF THE BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM, IMMUNE DISORDERS OF THE BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM, INCLUDING MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, DISORDERS RELATED TO SLEEP, AND PAIN. PROGRAMMATIC AREAS, WHICH ARE PRIMARILY SUPPORTED BY THE DIVISION OF NEUROSCIENCE, ARE ALSO SUPPORTED BY THE DIVISION OF EXTRAMURAL ACTIVITIES, THE DIVISION OF TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH, THE DIVISION OF CLINICAL RESEARCH, THE OFFICE OF TRAINING AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, THE OFFICE OF PROGRAMS TO ENHANCE NEUROSCIENCE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND THE OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES. (2) TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE THE SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PROGRAM, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, TO INCREASE SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. TO UTILIZE THE SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAM, TO STIMULATE AND FOSTER SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION THROUGH COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CARRIED OUT BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO FOSTER TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION.

93.853 - Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NNDS) [HHS - NIH]

Saint Louis, Missouri 631101010 United States

Single Zip Code

Research Program Award (R35 Clinical Trial Optional) (RFA-NS-20-030)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 1189% from $301,398 to $3,884,176.