Immediate Cooling And Emergency Decompression (ICED) For The Treatment Of Spinal Cord Injury: Pilot, Safety And Feasibility Studies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$600,008.00
Summary
Victims of Spinal Cord Injury are young, have severe paralysis, complex needs and high lifetime costs. Although urgent surgery greatly improves outcome, it is difficult to achieve because of logistical difficulties. To expand the time window for early surgery, it is proposed to immediately cool patients. This project will conduct the pilot studies necessary before commencing a clinical trial of immediate cooling and emergency decompression (ICED) in patients with cervical spinal cord injuries.
Therapeutic Development Of A Novel EphA4 Antagonist For Spinal Cord Injuries
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$687,105.00
Summary
Spinal cord injuries impose a significant burden on patients and their carers. At present, there are no treatments for spinal cord injury that provide functional improvement. This research program will develop a novel therapeutic molecule, EphA4-Fc, which promotes axonal regeneration and delivers significant functional improvement. We will determine the most effective protocol for EphA4-Fc administration and the physiological and functional outcomes of these treatment regimes.
Investigations Of Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow In Extracanalicular Syringomyelia.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$344,441.00
Summary
Cysts in the spinal cord (syringomyelia) develop in children and young adults with congenital spinal cord abnormalities such as spina bifida, and in people of all ages after spinal cord injury or meningitis. Syringomyelia causes pain and paralysis that usually does not improve even with treatment. The current lack of knowledge about the mechanism of spinal cord cyst formation and enlargement is preventing the development of effective therapy. We have previously shown that some types of spinal co ....Cysts in the spinal cord (syringomyelia) develop in children and young adults with congenital spinal cord abnormalities such as spina bifida, and in people of all ages after spinal cord injury or meningitis. Syringomyelia causes pain and paralysis that usually does not improve even with treatment. The current lack of knowledge about the mechanism of spinal cord cyst formation and enlargement is preventing the development of effective therapy. We have previously shown that some types of spinal cord cysts enlarge by the normal fluid surrounding the spinal cord being pumped around small arteries into the centre of the spinal cord. The mechanism of enlargement of post-traumatic spinal cord cysts remains unknown, and this debilitating type of syringomyelia remains difficult to treat. Our hypothesis is that post-traumatic spinal cord cysts also enlarge by fluid being pumped into them around small arteries. A further hypothesis is that reductions of arterial pulsations and of the pressure in the fluid surrounding the spinal cord will prevent or inhibit cyst enlargement. These hypotheses will be tested by examining fluid flow in models of post-traumatic syringomyelia in rats and sheep. We have established a model of post-traumatic syringomyelia in rats and the first phase of the project will be to refine and characterize this model and to reproduce it in sheep. The second phase will be to determine whether these cysts enlarge by a flow of fluid around small arteries that is driven by arterial pulsations, as they do in other types of syringomyelia. The final phase will be to determine whether reducing the pressure in the fluid around the spinal cord prevents cyst enlargement. Confirmation that these techniques prevent cyst enlargement would open up new possibilities for the treatment of human syringomyelia.Read moreRead less
Translation Of Abdominal Functional Electrical Stimulation From A Research Tool To Clinical Practice
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,768.00
Summary
People with a spinal cord injury to the neck are often unable to move their arms and legs, a condition known as tetraplegia. Tetraplegics are also unable to use their abdominal muscles, reducing breathing and bowel function. This project will use electrical pulses to make their abdominal muscles contract, improving breathing and bowel function. The results will be used to develop a program that can be used in all hospitals, reducing illness in tetraplegia and saving the health service money.
Effectiveness Of Ghrelin Receptor Agonists To Limit The Extent Of Tissue Damage Caused By Traumatic Injury To The Central Nervous System
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$592,002.00
Summary
Ghrelin is a naturally occurring compound that under adverse conditions can activate specific receptors on cells around the body to enhance their survival. These receptors are also present in the spinal cord, but ghrelin doesn't enter the spinal cord. We will investigate a new group of compounds that can enter the spinal cord and activate these receptors to see if this can reduce the amount of damage that occurs after a spinal cord injury. Less tissue damage would mean less permanent disability.
Roles Of Peripherally Derived BDNF In Regeneration Of Spinal Cord And The Mechanisms
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$472,770.00
Summary
Injury to the brain and spinal cord often leads to permanent disability due to lack of regeneration. The mechanism why central nerve does not regenerate is not known. Neurotrophic factors are powerful molecules which can overcome effects of inhibitory factors on regeneration. This project aims to investigate how neurotrophic factors override the effects of inhibitory factors and how to improve the regeneration by increasing the production of neurotrophic factors within nerves. Successful complet ....Injury to the brain and spinal cord often leads to permanent disability due to lack of regeneration. The mechanism why central nerve does not regenerate is not known. Neurotrophic factors are powerful molecules which can overcome effects of inhibitory factors on regeneration. This project aims to investigate how neurotrophic factors override the effects of inhibitory factors and how to improve the regeneration by increasing the production of neurotrophic factors within nerves. Successful completion of this project will help understanding the mechanism of how neurotrophic factors work on regeneration and developing the effective way to improve regeneration of the injured spinal cord.Read moreRead less
Neural Circuits Producing Pelvic Vasodilation In Females
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$472,770.00
Summary
The reproductive organs and genitalia in males and females experience a large increase in blood flow during sexual and reproductive activity. This increased blood flow (vasodilation) is a key component of penile and clitoral erection, and enhances secretion from the lining of the internal reproductive organs. Vasodilation during sexual activity is produced by a special sets of nerves receiving signals from the genitalia and the brain. In fact, Viagra works by enhancing and prolonging the actions ....The reproductive organs and genitalia in males and females experience a large increase in blood flow during sexual and reproductive activity. This increased blood flow (vasodilation) is a key component of penile and clitoral erection, and enhances secretion from the lining of the internal reproductive organs. Vasodilation during sexual activity is produced by a special sets of nerves receiving signals from the genitalia and the brain. In fact, Viagra works by enhancing and prolonging the actions of these nerves. An important part of this neural pathway is a group of nerve cells in the spinal cord that connects the central nervous system with peripheral nerves in the reproductive organs - these are called preganglionic neurons. Recently we discovered that a major pathway from the spinal cord to the pelvic blood vessels in females leaves the spinal cord at a different level (lumbar) from that thought previously (sacral level). Currently there is no information on how these lumbar preganglionic nerves in females are connected to other nerve pathways that are active during sexual activity, and how they integrate signals from both the internal organs and the brain. We will use an array of modern cellular techniques together with direct observation of dilation in isolated uterine arteries to discover how these nerve cells are wired up in circuits in the spinal cord. This information is vital for us to understand the factors producing increased blood flow in normal sexual activity, and how these might be altered in inflammation or in conditions where there could be selective damage to one nerve pathway and not the other, such as after pelvic surgery, spinal cord damage at different levels, or stimulation of the spinal cord for treatment of chronic pain. Our study also will help understand referred pain and sensations of discomfort in abdominal and pelvic organs.Read moreRead less
Promoting Recovery After Neurotrauma: Basic Science, Clinical Trials And Community Engagement
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$356,269.00
Summary
To promote recovery after neurotrauma by controlling the spread of damage and by maximising function in surviving circuits. The work involves animal models & nanotechnology as well as clinical rehabilitation trials in humans with spinal cord injury.