Scientists working to understand why critical nerve cells continue to die after SCI

Two University of Virginia School of Medicine scientists are teaming up to understand why critical nerve cells called neurons continue to die after spinal cord injuries. So little is known about this sequence of events following an injury that doctors aren’t even certain if the body’s immune response is beneficial or harmful and these are the type of questions that have long frustrated the development of effective treatments.

Their work will provide important insights into how the body responds to a spinal cord injury. For example, the researchers will seek to determine if neurons are dying because immune cells called microglia aren’t up to the task of removing harmful debris. Or if other immune cells, called macrophages, can’t get to where they’re needed. By determining what types of cells are involved in the injury response, and exactly what those cells are doing, the researchers will identify potential avenues to improve the treatment of spinal cord injuries.

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