SEARCH FOR SCI CURE: Aug. 20 webinar to address increasing the signal to noise ratio in the spinal cord

Dr. Amanda Zimmerman

The Spaulding New England Regional Spinal Cord Injury Center (SNERSCIC) will present a webinar on Thurs., Aug. 20th at 6:30 p.m. ET on “Getting More Out of Less: Increasing the Signal to Noise Ratio in the Spinal Cord” presented by Dr. Amanda Zimmerman, a senior scientist at Axonis Therapeutics. She will discuss how the inhibitory/excitatory balance in the spinal cord is critical to both movement and sensation, and how it is disrupted after SCI. She will then discuss exciting new preclinical research that shows how nuanced regulation of inhibition (through targeting the central neuron-specific ion pump KCC2) can lead to substantial improvements after SCI, and the path necessary to translate these findings into the clinic.

Spinal cord neurons come in two basic forms: excitatory neurons, which promote electrical signals, and inhibitory neurons, which help halt transmission of these electrical signals. In an intact spinal cord, there is a balance between excitatory and inhibitory signals that allow for refined movement. Spinal cord injury (SCI) dramatically impairs voluntary movement and sensation below the level of injury. Yet most individuals with complete SCI have some intact circuits below the level of injury, possibly capable of generating automatic movement patterns such as walking.

You can register to attend this webinar HERE.