Investigation of CSMN response after injury

Corticospinal motor neurons (CSMN) are the cortical component of the motor neuron circuitry and their degeneration leads to long-term paralysis in patients. In spinal cord injury patients the death of CSMN is an important time where restoration of voluntary movement becomes very challenging. However, there is a window of opportunity for the CSMN to respond to treatment and to extent their severed axons. It is therefore important to test compounds and antibodies for their ability to enhance CSMN axon outgrowth. In collaboration with MT Pharma, we will be investigating the efficacy of their compound to improve CSMN health and axon outgrowth after injury and when exposed to stress such as immune stress and oxidative stress. We will determine whether the compound of interest has the potential to overcome the barrier and enhance axon outgrowth of upper motor neurons.