Scientists Find New Way to Enhance Nerve Growth After Injury

New research published today by researchers at the University of Calgary’s Hotchkiss Brain Institute uncovers a mechanism to promote growth in damaged nerve cells.

Dr. Doug Zochodne, a professor in the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, and his team have discovered a key molecule that directly regulates nerve cell growth in the damaged nervous system. This surprising discovery was published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications, with lead authors Kim Christie and Anand Krishnan.

So far, Zochodne is only investigating this technique in the peripheral nervous system. Peripheral nerves connect the brain and spinal cord to the body and without them, there is no movement or sensation. Peripheral nerve damage can be incredibly debilitating, with patients experiencing symptoms like pain, tingling, numbness or difficulty co-ordinating hands, feet, arms or legs.

As Zochodne explains, “peripheral nerve damage is surprisingly common. We see patients with cut or crushed nerves from motor vehicle accidents and we also see patients that suffer from conditions called neuropathies – a range of disorders that damage peripheral nerves.”