# Reconnecting the injured cervical spinal cord by transplanted human iPSC-derived neural progenitors

> **NIH NIH R01** · FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY · 2023 · $322,656

## Abstract

Abstract
Axonal degeneration significantly contributes to functional loss after spinal cord injury (SCI). Grafting neural
progenitors derived from patients’ own induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) is a promising strategy to
establish neuronal relay for reconnecting injured long tracts with their denervated neurons and promoting
functional recovery. We hypothesize that co-transplanted human iPSC-derived glial restricted progenitors
(GRPs) and neuronal restricted progenitors (NRPs) will work synergistically to form neuronal relays for the
injured tracts and that multineurotrophin D15A will direct grafted neurons to form functional synapses with
denervated target neurons and promote greater functional recovery in both laceration and contusion cervical
SCI animal models. In this proposal, we will test (1) if co-transplanted human iPSC-derived GRPs and NRPs
will work synergistically to form neuronal relays for the injured ascending dorsal column tract (DCT) and
descending corticospinal tract (CST), and promote functional recovery after C3 dorsal funiculus laceration; (2)
if gradient multineurotrophin D15A in dorsal nuclei and caudal ventral horn will direct grafted neurons to extend
axons toward and form functional synapses with denervated target neurons of DCT and CST, and promote
greater functional recovery; and (3) if grafted NRPs and GRPs will integrate into the spared circuits and
promote functional recovery after clinically relevant cervical contusion SCI. Data obtained from the proposed
approach will be critical in developing safe and effective patient-specific iPSC-based restorative therapies for
SCI in the near future.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10614660
- **Project number:** 5R01NS110707-05
- **Recipient organization:** FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Ying Liu
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $322,656
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-03-01 → 2026-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10614660

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10614660, Reconnecting the injured cervical spinal cord by transplanted human iPSC-derived neural progenitors (5R01NS110707-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10614660. Licensed CC0.

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