UQ researchers are claiming a breakthrough in spinal regeneration research with the potential to develop therapies for people with head and spinal injuries.

Professor Perry Bartlett, Director of the Queensland Brain Institute at UQ, said a molecule that blocks regrowth of damaged nerve processes had been discovered.

“If we can block that molecule shortly after accidents, we predict it will lead to regrowth of the nerve processes and therefore lead to recovery of function,” Professor Bartlett said.

Research had shown that removing the molecule, known as EPHA4, in mice with damaged spinal cords had led to regeneration of nerve processes and dramatic changes in limb usage.

“The mice were able to grasp objects with a limb that had previously been paralysed,” he said. “We have observed a significant regrowth not seen before.”

He said further research with mice would be directed towards developing therapeutics that could block the action of this molecule and if these proved effective, it would be a prospective agent for use in human trials.

Professor Bartlett is an Australian Research Council Federation Fellow, UQ’s Foundation Chair in Molecular Neuroscience and a Fellow of The Australian Academy of Science.

Professor Perry Bartlett www.uq.edu.au/uqresearchers/researcher/bartlettpf.html

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