Current Research Funding:

1) Mitochondrial transplantation combined with mitochondrial-targeted pharmaceuticals to treat spinal cord injury.

Principle Investigator: A.G. Rabchevsky (06/01/20 - 05/31/23)

Co-Investigators: S.P. Patel., P.G. Sullivan, T. Dziubla, J. DeRouchey
Agency: Department of Defense (CDMRP/SCIRP) SC190110

Type: Investigator-Initiated Research Award

The proposed experiments are designed to test the protective efficacy of mitochondrial transplantation alone or in combination with neuroprotective agents for long-term functional recovery following contusion SCI. We will 1) establish that transplantation of isolated mitochondria be delivered through diffusible hydrogel polymers subdurally into spinal cords, 2) test the hypothesis that mitochondrial transplantation in combination with mitochondrial -targeted pharmaceuticals will ameliorate acute and sub-acute biochemical and cellular outcome measures compared to individual therapies , and test the hypothesis that combinatorial regimens will maximize long-term functional neuroprotection.

2) Chronic muscle weakness in sepsis survivors.
Principle Investigator: H. Saito (09/01/17 - 10/31/22)
Co-Investigators: S.P. Patel
Agency: NIH-NINDS
Type: R01
These studies will establish mitochondrial damage and dysfunction in sepsis-surviving mice, investigate sarcomeric protein damage and its causal mechanisms long after recovery from sepsis, and formulate therapeutic strategies to ameliorate post-sepsis chronic muscle weakness.

3) Pioglitazone fosters neuroprotection via specific interaction with mitoNEET
Principle Investigator: A.G. Rabchevsky (07/01/17 – 06/30/21) NCE
Co-Investigators: S.P. Patel, P.G. Sullivan and J.C. Gensel
Agency: The Craig H. Neilsen Foundation - Senior Research Grant
Type: Senior Investigator Grant
These studies will directly test whether pioglitazone affords neuroprotection following SCI by directly ameliorating mitochondrial dysfunction via interactions with mitoNEET using a novel transgenic model (mitoNEET null), as well as a novel specific mitoNEET ligand and an antagonist, alone and in tandem, to mechanistically test our hypotheses.