Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Emory University received a $234,750 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, with an award date of January 26, 2026 and completion date of December 31, 2027. The grant funds research into neuromodulation of somato-sympathetic postganglionic neuron activity following spinal cord injury (SCI), with the objective of developing rigorous animal models using clinically analogous epidural spinal cord stimulation (SCS) to better understand autonomic function restoration after SCI and inform future clinical trials.

The research deliverables include development and refinement of an in vivo approach incorporating modified microneurography techniques to record somatic sympathetic postganglionic neuron activity in mice, enabling simultaneous capture of sympathetic nerve activity from multiple hindlimb skin and muscle nerves. This investigator-initiated basic and translational research project addresses the significant clinical gap in understanding how electrotherapeutic strategies like SCS can improve dysautonomia symptoms in SCI patients, particularly concerning thermoregulation and muscle metabolic function impairment. The findings are intended to support evidence-based development of therapeutic protocols and advance clinical translation of autonomic neuromodulation strategies for spinal cord injury populations.