Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center received a $642,712 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) under the Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders program (CFDA 93.853), effective June 15, 2026, with completion targeted for May 31, 2031. This collaborative research project focuses on advancing treatment options for spinal cord injury (SCI) patients, specifically those experiencing urinary dysfunction—a complication affecting over 80% of the 300,000 SCI patients in the United States.

The research initiative will investigate adult neurogenesis as an alternative therapeutic approach to progenitor cell transplantation, utilizing resident glial cells within the adult spinal cord to generate immune-compatible neurons. The project will systematically examine the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying induced adult neurogenesis following contusive SCI, evaluate the maturation and synaptic integration of newly generated neurons, and assess their capacity to restore bladder function. This approach addresses significant gaps in existing treatments by leveraging transcription factors identified through recent in vivo screening to induce substantial neurogenesis from resident spinal cord cells, thereby circumventing immunoreaction risks and ethical concerns associated with stem cell-derived transplantation therapies.