Nearly 300,000 Americans have sustained some form of spinal cord injury (SCI), and effective therapies to promote recovery of neural function are lacking. Our overarching vision is to create an ex-vivo tissue that can replace the damaged spinal cord and enable formation of new relay circuits across sites of even severe injury. Our extensive rodent work with 3D printed biomimetic scaffolds shows that this approach can result in electrophysiological and functional recovery after complete spinal cord transection, the most severe model of spinal cord injury. This project aims to assess the efficacy of 3D printed biomimetic scaffolds, loaded with human neural progenitor cells and implanted acutely, in a long-term clinically relevant, non-human primate model of cervical spinal cord contusion. There are 2 objectives to this project: 1. Analysis of anatomical outcomes - Biocompatibility, integration, degradation, vascularization, host axon regeneration into the scaffold, and neural progenitor cell-derived axon outgrowth from the scaffold into the host. 2. Analysis of functional outcomes. Animals will be functionally assessed on tasks of right- hand function, including Brinkman board, home cage-based robotic manipulation, forelimb and hindlimb use in an open field/exercise enclosure, and sensation. Successful performance outcomes of the grant may lead to clinical trials, with resulting high impact.

Public Health Relevance

Nearly 300,000 Americans have sustained spinal cord injury (SCI), and effective therapies for this disorder are lacking. This project aims to evaluate the efficacy of 3D printed biomimetic scaffold, loaded with human neural progenitor cells and implanted acutely, in a long-term clinically relevant, non-human primate model of cervical spinal cord contusion.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01NS114043-01
Application #
9867239
Study Section
Bioengineering, Technology and Surgical Sciences Study Section (BTSS)
Program Officer
Jakeman, Lyn B
Project Start
2020-01-01
Project End
2022-12-31
Budget Start
2020-01-01
Budget End
2020-12-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2020
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California, San Diego
Department
Neurosciences
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
804355790
City
La Jolla
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92093