Peripheral nerve injuries represent a major public health problem, seen frequently in patients admitted to level I trauma centers and in as many as 30% of individuals with traumatic brain injuries. A primary goal of intervention in this arena is t hasten recovery so as to restore function as rapidly as possible. Progress towards this goal, however, has been limited. Interestingly, we recently discovered that systemic erythropoietin (EPO) administration speeds functional recovery after experimental crush injury to the sciatic nerve, even when EPO is administered one week after injury. These findings have already led to clinical studies being initiated overseas. Understanding how EPO induces this beneficial effect would enable us to design conditions and dosing strategies that can optimize its therapeutic effects; this is the goal of th3e studies proposed in this application. In the first Specific Aim, we will address the question of whether local delivery of EPO, rather than systemic delivery, will enable us to further enhance recovery and thus set the stage for the development of innovative local delivery methods to enhance/induce repair. The pleiotropic multi-organ effects of EPO, coupled with the surgical and medical focus for local treatment for local traumatic injury argues for a local application of this potent pharmacologic bio-modulator. This, in effect, focuses the effect of EPO directly at the site of injury, eliminating secondary effects and enabling the optimization of treatment in a clinically relevant and targeted manner. In the second Specific Aim, we will test the hypothesis that at least part of the mechanism of EPO action derives from beneficial effects on Schwann cells, the cells that support the function of peripheral nerves by myelinating the axons that run through these nerves. Overall, the identification of target cell(s) of EPO action will better enable us to determine how benefit occurs. In this Specific Aim, we will also begin teasing apart the underlying signaling that supports the impact of EPO, providing a basis for envisioning adjuvant therapies that focus on manipulating the key signaling players in the EPO receptor pathway. The above Specific Aims will represent the research training component of the proposed program to support the transition of Dr. John Elfar MD, a clinician/surgeon who is expanding his academic role to the clinician scientist track. The proposed research training plan is positioned on the backdrop of a robust mentoring and didactic training program that collectively represents a multi- faceted training environment aimed at ensuring successful career transition for Dr. Elfar.
This application lays out a mentoring, research and didactic training program to support the transition of Dr. John Elfar MD, an Orthopaedic Surgeon at the University of Rochester Medical Center, to the clinician scientist track. In addition to specific coursework and mentoring activities, a research program is proposed that aims to test the efficacy of erythropoietin as a novel and innovative therapy for neurorecovery following nerve compression injury.
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