Institute of Experimental Medicine CAS

Published 27. 5. 2022

The research project of Mgr. Kristýna Kárová, PhD was successful in the grant competition of the International Foundation for Research in Paraplegia based in Switzerland. This foundation supports basic and clinical research on regeneration and recovery of central nervous system functions in the context of spinal cord injury. 

Kristýna works at the Department of Neuroregeneration, where she is involved in research on supporting mechanisms of axon regeneration, for example by stimulating the relevant signalling pathways through gene therapy. Thanks to the grant, she and her team can employ state-of-the-art equipment to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this approach as well as functional recovery in an animal (rat) model of spinal cord injury. This technologically challenging research will involve identifying the transcriptomic landscape (related to axon regeneration) using RNA sequencing. The research aims to find new nodes of control in axon regrowth and proper reattachment. Part of the work will also be devoted to the modulation of gene therapy. 

The scientists expect that the research results will help discover potentially new therapeutic options for use in human medicine while improving current gene therapy strategies.     

More information about the foundation you can find on the website:  www.irp.ch/en/foundation