Currently Funded Project

Repairing the chronically injured spinal cord with induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)

Working WithUniversity of Queensland
Lead Researcher Dr Marc Ruitenberg
PCSRF funding period2018 – 2021
Total Funds Committed$393,000

In May 2018, PCSRF confirmed its support for this exciting new three year research project, led by Dr Marc Ruitenberg at University of Queensland.

The intended outcome of this proposal is to design and develop an iPSC-based cell transplantation strategy that will replace lost spinal cord neurons and re-establish connectivity in order to cure paralysis, a key objective of the Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation.

This project is a collaborative effort that brings together the expertise of Dr. Marc Ruitenberg, one of Australia’s foremost SCI researchers, and that of Prof. Ernst Wolvetang, a leader in pluripotent stem cell biology and functional genomics.

The permanent disability that results from traumatic spinal cord injuries (SCIs) can only be fully addressed by strategies that aim to replace lost neurons and restore connectivity between the brain and target structures. Propriospinal interneurons may be ideal for transplantation purposes as they naturally connect distant segments of the spinal cord via both ascending and descending projections. The team will explore whether iPSC-derived excitatory V2a propriospinal interneurons, which have crucial roles in motor control, can repair broken spinal cord circuits and return lost function.

Latest Updates

14/08/2019

Dr Sally Martin is part of the team working under Associate Professor Marc Ruitenberg at The University of Queensland developing strategies to deal with the principal source of permanent disability after spinal cord injury. Click here to learn more.

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