Project Grant R01NS134695

This Project Grant award from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), under the Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders (CFDA 93.853) program, is supporting the development of a non-invasive infrared light therapy and medical device to treat spinal cord injury (SCI). The total award amount is $1,735,024.00 and the project period runs from August 15, 2024 to May 31, 2029.

The primary objective is to develop an intervention that can attenuate the acute injury and inflammatory response in the initial 24 hours following SCI, which currently lacks approved treatments to significantly reduce neuronal death. The research aims to address the secondary cascade of events following SCI that lead to mitochondrial dysfunction and increased reactive oxygen species, driving further spinal cord damage and inhibiting neuronal regeneration. The project will involve preclinical testing and validation of the infrared light therapy and device in rodent and swine SCI models, conducted by the prime awardee, Wayne State University, in collaboration with researchers at the University of Michigan and University of Texas at Austin.