Grant: Project Grant

Peripheral nerves are the essential connections between the brain, spinal cord and body. Without them, there is no movement or sensation. Injuries and disease of peripheral nerves are very common. Unfortunately nerves regenerate slowly and incompletely, if at all. There are no specific interventions to improve regeneration of nerves. The Zochodne laboratory has discovered that a series of molecules, earlier studied in tumours, when suppressed can activate improved growth in peripheral nerves. Peripheral nerves contain these molecules, and they appear to 'brake' or restrain robust regrowth after injury. Relaxing these brakes using inhibitor agents or blocking them, an approach known as siRNA, enhances growth in experimental nerve injury of rats and mice. In this proposal, the PI plans to study whether growth in peripheral nerves can be improved with combinations of these molecules and with related molecules. Several new molecules with similar actions will also be studied. The plans involve analysis of growth in single adult neurons, nerve regrowth at early timepoints and longer term models of regeneration. The overall approach is to find new regeneration solutions that may be translated into therapy for persons with nerve injury or disease.