Technology-driven combinatorial therapy to rewire the spinal cord after injury (ReWire)

技术驱动的组合疗法可在损伤后重新连接脊髓 (ReWire)

• 批准号: EP/X030946/1
• 负责人: Simone Di Giovanni
• 金额: $ 33.8万
• 依托单位: Imperial College London
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2023 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FX030946%2F1
• 关键词: Technology; driven; combinatorial; therapy; rewire

ReWIRE will combine innovative translational neurotechnologies and rehabilitation interventions for the repair and restoration of neurological functions following injury of the spinal cord (SC). The proposed research program will equip next-generation scientists with unique skills to develop disruptive therapeutic solutions for patients with paralysis. Recent technological breakthroughs have triggered a paradigm shift in the conception of therapies aimed to restore function after spinal cord injury (SCI). Novel drug delivery systems and biomaterial bridges have been engineered to reduce secondary injury and scarring, to stimulate and guide regenerating nerve fibres across the lesion site, and to promote functional reconnection with intact tissue. Additionally, neuromodulation therapies can reactivate spinal circuits below a SCI, allowing people with chronic paralysis to regain voluntary control of walking. In conjunction with rehabilitation, neurological recovery was promoted that persisted without neuromodulation, suggesting a rewiring of the SC as demonstrated in preclinical models. To bypass an injury, neuromodulation has been linked to brain signals to re-establish corticalcontrol over spinal circuits by employing electrical nerve stimulation and robotic systems. Advances in robotics are significantly augmenting the impact of neurorehabilitation by inducing new natural "wired" connections. The aim of ReWIRE is to leverage all these technical and therapeutic breakthroughs in the framework of multiple PhD projects that will continuously interact to converge toward effective combinatorial treatments for SCI. ReWIRE will focus on three inter-woven objectives: i) establish an international, interdisciplinary, and intersectoral educational network, ii) build an SCI clinical data platform, and, iii) position Europe at the forefront of therapy for SCI.

ReWIRE 将结合创新的转化神经技术和康复干预措施，用于修复和恢复脊髓 (SC) 损伤后的神经功能。拟议的研究计划将为下一代科学家提供独特的技能，为瘫痪患者开发颠覆性的治疗解决方案。最近的技术突破引发了旨在恢复脊髓损伤（SCI）后功能的治疗概念的范式转变。新型药物输送系统和生物材料桥经过精心设计，可以减少继发性损伤和疤痕，刺激和引导神经纤维穿过病变部位再生，并促进与完整组织的功能重新连接。此外，神经调节疗法可以重新激活脊髓损伤以下的脊髓回路，使慢性瘫痪患者重新获得自主控制行走的能力。与康复相结合，神经功能恢复得到促进，并且在没有神经调节的情况下持续存在，这表明 SC 的重新布线，如临床前模型所示。为了绕过损伤，神经调节已与大脑信号联系起来，通过采用电神经刺激和机器人系统来重建对脊髓回路的皮质控制。机器人技术的进步通过引入新的自然“有线”连接，显着增强了神经康复的影响。 ReWIRE 的目标是在多个博士项目的框架内利用所有这些技术和治疗突破，这些项目将不断相互作用，以实现 SCI 的有效组合治疗。 ReWIRE 将重点关注三个相互交织的目标：i) 建立一个国际、跨学科和跨部门的教育网络，ii) 建立 SCI 临床数据平台，以及 iii) 将欧洲置于 SCI 治疗的前沿。