Validation of Structural, Molecular, and Functional Imaging Biomarkers in Spinal Cord Injury in Nonhuman Primates
Abstract
The research performed aimed to track longitudinally the spontaneous repair of injured spinal cord in a primate model of cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) using novel, multi-modal MRI methods. The major goal was to establish their relationships to gold-standard invasive measures of function and structure in non-human primates. The long term aims of the research are to provide the basis for the interpretation of integrated, MRI-based biomarkers for the non-invasive assessment of SCI and repair, which are poorly understood because of a lack of appropriate longitudinal tracking methods. Such information is critical for understanding recovery processes of sensory, autonomic and/or motor functions and for determining the optimal time window, targets, and effectiveness of therapeutic interventions. We used a combination of advanced MRI methods to obtain unique insights into SCI progression, including functional integrity of grey matter and micro-structural and biochemical changes in white matter to assess changes in structural, functional and cellular/molecular properties of SCI over time. We determined how these changes predict and correlate with behavioral recovery and histological endpoints.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1134730
Entities
People
- John C. Gore
Organizations
- Vanderbilt University