Grant: DRA : Canada Graduate Research Scholarship - Doctoral Program (CGRS D)

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is devastating condition that affects thousands of Canadians. SCI often damages part of the autonomic nervous system that controls functions like blood pressure and heart rate. Individuals living with an SCI experience a significantly greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease because high level SCI cuts off important nerve signals that normally travel from the brain, through the spinal cord to important organs such as the heart and vasculature. Current therapies, while not successful, target pathways that are undamaged by the injury, but no singular treatment has been able to restore cardiovascular function. This research project aims to restore heart function and blood pressure control after SCI through the combination of two therapies. The first involves transplantation of specialized cells called neural progenitor cells (NPCs) to reconnect pathways from above and below the injury. This will be combined with a clinically tested breathing treatment that involves short, repeated exposures to low oxygen called daily acute intermittent hypoxia (dAIH) to boost regeneration and strengthen signalling in the spinal circuits. We will use viral tracing techniques to visualize connections made by transplanted cells along with implanted devices that continuously measure blood pressure to track cardiovascular recovery. Research from this project aims to advance potential therapies that could improve the quality of life for people living with a spinal cord injury.