# Elucidating Neuron-Intrinsic Molecular Mechanisms of Optic Nerve Regeneration

> **NIH NIH R01** · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $465,650

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Injuries of mature central nervous system (CNS) axons result in loss of vital functions due to the failure of CNS
axons regeneration. We previously conducted an extensive molecular dissection of the
PTEN/PI3K/AKT/mTOR complexes (mTORCs) signaling network, illuminated their cross-regulating
mechanisms, and definitively determined the linear and parallel signals that contribute to optic nerve
regeneration. However, the specific effectors downstream of PTEN or AKT that proactively regulate axon
regeneration are still unknown. This is a proposal to identify regeneration markers and true permissive signals
of axon regeneration by comparing regenerating and non-regenerating RGCs with the same genetic
modulation. This information will provide an unambiguous pro-regeneration signaling pattern that will guide us
to identify novel therapeutic targets and assist in safely translating our findings into innovative neural repair
treatments for patients with CNS injuries and neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, it is also extremely
important to determine how neuroprotection and regeneration therapies interact, especially whether protecting
regenerating axons from degeneration enhances their viability and growth so that they can achieve full-length
regeneration with recovery of visual function.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10248561
- **Project number:** 5R01EY024932-07
- **Recipient organization:** STANFORD UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Yang Hu
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $465,650
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2015-09-01 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10248561

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10248561, Elucidating Neuron-Intrinsic Molecular Mechanisms of Optic Nerve Regeneration (5R01EY024932-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10248561. Licensed CC0.

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