Brain and spinal cord injuries are devastating events that have life-long impacts on the patients' lives with wide-reaching clinical, social and economic effects. At present, there are no effective treatments for brain or spinal cord injury. Consequently, there is an urgent need for innovative restorative therapies. By studying animal models that can repair their brain and spinal cord, we have identified novel cell types and molecules that guide the repair process. A common feature for highly regenerative animals is that their tissues and cells display enhanced malleability and a capacity to remodel and regrow after injury. The underlying mechanisms for this plasticity are not known but the accessibility of DNA carrying the genetic information is thought to play a role. In this project, we will investigate how the DNA state is controlled to enable brain and spinal cord repair.

2022

2026