The New Jersey Commission on Spinal Cord Research (NJCSCR) awarded 17 grants totaling nearly $3.36 million to New Jersey universities to stimulate new research into the field of spinal cord repair and regeneration during state fiscal year 2008.

More than 250,000 people in the U.S. have spinal cord injuries, including more than 6,000 in New Jersey.

“The research funded through these grants holds great promise for the development of new therapies and potential cures for paralysis and other consequences of spinal cord injury,” said New Jersey Health and Senior Services Commissioner Heather Howard.

Since its creation by the Legislature in 1999, NJCSCR has awarded 121 grants to 89 scientists who have established numerous collaborations in New Jersey and elsewhere.

“The grantees have advanced their research by obtaining additional funding from the National Institutes of Health and other agencies,” said John Del Colle, NJCSCR chairman. “They have also published more than 50 articles in major scientific publications, and presented their work at numerous scientific conferences.”

NJCSCR grants include one-and two-year individual research grants; post-doctoral and graduate fellowships; one-time grants to support start-up costs for spinal cord research facilities in New Jersey; and five-year grants supporting spinal cord research.

For more information about applying for a research grant, including application deadlines, call 609-292-4055 or visit the commission website at www.state.nj.us/health/spinalcord. Written inquiries can also be sent to The New Jersey Commission on Spinal Cord Research, P.O. Box 360, Trenton, NJ 08625.

NJCSCR approved applications for nine individual research grants and eight fellowship grants at the following institutions in state fiscal year 2008:

§ New Jersey Insititute of Technology, Bioengineering

§ Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Biomedical Engineering

§ Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Cell Biology & Neuroscience

§ Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Chemical Biology

§ Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, W.M. Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience

§ University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School

§ University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

The grant recipients are:

Individual Research Grants

Principal Investigator – Melitta Schachner, Ph.D.

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, W.M. Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience

Individual Research Grant Award: $275,000

Proposal Title: Glycan-Mediated Improvement of Spinal Cord Regeneration

Principal Investigator – Audrey Minden, Ph.D.

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Chemical Biology

Individual Research Grant Award: $200,000

Proposal Title: The Role for Pak4 in Motor Neuron Development

Principal Investigator – Stella Elkabes, Ph.D.

University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Neurology and Neuroscience

Individual Research Grant Award: $197,562

Proposal Title: Novel Targets for Neuroprotection in the Spinal Cord

Principal Investigator – Dewey Royal, Ph.D.

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Cell Biology & Neuroscience

Individual Research Grant Award: $200,000

Proposal Title: Identification of Genes Contributing to Neuronal Necrosis in Physiological Injury

Principal Investigator – Melitta Schachner, Ph.D.

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, W.M. Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience

Individual Research Grant Award: $395,870

Proposal Title: Spinal Cord Intrinsic Regulation of Regeneration - Proactive g

Principal Investigator – Noshir Langrana, Ph.D.

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Biomedical Engineering

Individual Research Grant Award: $393,158

Proposal Title: Neural Precusor Control by ECM for Spinal Cord Regeneration

Principal Investigator – Martin Grumet, Ph.D.

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, W.M. Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience

Individual Research Grant Award: $342,064

Proposal Title: Acute Treatment of siRNA for RhoA in Spinal Cord Injury

Principal Investigator – Andrew Pachner, M.D.

University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Neurology and Neuroscience

Individual Research Grant Award: $392,032

Proposal Title: Spinal Cord Injury in MS: Biomarkers and Therapy

Principal Investigator – Li Cai, Ph.D.

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Biomedical Engineering

Individual Research Grant Award: $400,000

Proposal Title: Control of Olig2 Expression in Spinal Cord Development and Regeneration

Graduate And Post-Doctoral Fellowship Grants

Principal Investigator – Christopher Langhammer

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Cell Biology & Neuroscience

Fellowship Grant Award: $60,000

Proposal Title: Spinal Cord Motor Neuron-Based Neural Interface Design

Principal Investigator – Marton Toth, Ph.D.

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Molecular Biology & Biochemistry

Fellowship Grant Award: $100,000

Proposal Title: Molecular Mechanisms of Neuroprotection and Regeneration

Principal Investigator – Yee-Shuan Lee

New Jersey Insititute of Technology, Bioengineering

Fellowship Grant Award: $60,000

Proposal Title: Nano-Fibrous Scaffold for Functional Recovery After Spinal Cord Injury

Principal Investigator – Evangeline Tzatzalos

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, W.M. Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience

Fellowship Grant Award: $60,000

Proposal Title: Notch Promotes Radial Glial Phenotype in Neural Progenitors

Principal Investigator – Ian Gaudet

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Biomedical Engineering

Fellowship Grant Award: $60,000

Proposal Title: Neurite Guidance Using Photonically Derived Durotactic Gradients

Principal Investigator – Ye He

University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert. Wood Johnson Medical School

Fellowship Grant Award: $60,000

Proposal Title: YY1 in Schwann Cell Proliferation and Myelination

Principal Investigator – Kedar Mahajan

University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Neurology and Neuroscience

Fellowship Grant Award: $60,000

Proposal Title: IGF-1 Mediated Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Survival in SCI

Principal Investigator – Damien Carrel

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Cell Biology & Neuroscience

Fellowship Grant Award: $100,000

Proposal Title: Neuroprotective Effects of Cypin After SCI


PO Box 360 Trenton, NJ 08625-0360 For Release: July 10, 2008	Heather Howard Commissioner For Further Information Contact: Dawn Thomas (609) 984-7160

New Jersey Commission on Spinal Cord Research Awards $3.36 Million in Grants
The New Jersey Commission on Spinal Cord Research (NJCSCR) awarded 17 grants totaling nearly $3.36 million to New Jersey universities to stimulate new research into the field of spinal cord repair and regeneration during state fiscal year 2008. More than 250,000 people in the U.S. have spinal cord injuries, including more than 6,000 in New Jersey. “The research funded through these grants holds great promise for the development of new therapies and potential cures for paralysis and other consequences of spinal cord injury,” said New Jersey Health and Senior Services Commissioner Heather Howard. Since its creation by the Legislature in 1999, NJCSCR has awarded 121 grants to 89 scientists who have established numerous collaborations in New Jersey and elsewhere. “The grantees have advanced their research by obtaining additional funding from the National Institutes of Health and other agencies,” said John Del Colle, NJCSCR chairman. “They have also published more than 50 articles in major scientific publications, and presented their work at numerous scientific conferences.” NJCSCR grants include one-and two-year individual research grants; post-doctoral and graduate fellowships; one-time grants to support start-up costs for spinal cord research facilities in New Jersey; and five-year grants supporting spinal cord research. For more information about applying for a research grant, including application deadlines, call 609-292-4055 or visit the commission website at www.state.nj.us/health/spinalcord. Written inquiries can also be sent to The New Jersey Commission on Spinal Cord Research, P.O. Box 360, Trenton, NJ 08625. NJCSCR approved applications for nine individual research grants and eight fellowship grants at the following institutions in state fiscal year 2008: § New Jersey Insititute of Technology, Bioengineering § Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Biomedical Engineering § Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Cell Biology & Neuroscience § Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Chemical Biology § Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, W.M. Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience § University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School § University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School The grant recipients are: Individual Research Grants Principal Investigator – Melitta Schachner, Ph.D. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, W.M. Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience Individual Research Grant Award: $275,000 Proposal Title: Glycan-Mediated Improvement of Spinal Cord Regeneration Principal Investigator – Audrey Minden, Ph.D. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Chemical Biology Individual Research Grant Award: $200,000 Proposal Title: The Role for Pak4 in Motor Neuron Development Principal Investigator – Stella Elkabes, Ph.D. University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Neurology and Neuroscience Individual Research Grant Award: $197,562 Proposal Title: Novel Targets for Neuroprotection in the Spinal Cord Principal Investigator – Dewey Royal, Ph.D. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Cell Biology & Neuroscience Individual Research Grant Award: $200,000 Proposal Title: Identification of Genes Contributing to Neuronal Necrosis in Physiological Injury Principal Investigator – Melitta Schachner, Ph.D. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, W.M. Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience Individual Research Grant Award: $395,870 Proposal Title: Spinal Cord Intrinsic Regulation of Regeneration - Proactive g Principal Investigator – Noshir Langrana, Ph.D. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Biomedical Engineering Individual Research Grant Award: $393,158 Proposal Title: Neural Precusor Control by ECM for Spinal Cord Regeneration Principal Investigator – Martin Grumet, Ph.D. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, W.M. Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience Individual Research Grant Award: $342,064 Proposal Title: Acute Treatment of siRNA for RhoA in Spinal Cord Injury Principal Investigator – Andrew Pachner, M.D. University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Neurology and Neuroscience Individual Research Grant Award: $392,032 Proposal Title: Spinal Cord Injury in MS: Biomarkers and Therapy Principal Investigator – Li Cai, Ph.D. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Biomedical Engineering Individual Research Grant Award: $400,000 Proposal Title: Control of Olig2 Expression in Spinal Cord Development and Regeneration Graduate And Post-Doctoral Fellowship Grants Principal Investigator – Christopher Langhammer Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Cell Biology & Neuroscience Fellowship Grant Award: $60,000 Proposal Title: Spinal Cord Motor Neuron-Based Neural Interface Design Principal Investigator – Marton Toth, Ph.D. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Molecular Biology & Biochemistry Fellowship Grant Award: $100,000 Proposal Title: Molecular Mechanisms of Neuroprotection and Regeneration Principal Investigator – Yee-Shuan Lee New Jersey Insititute of Technology, Bioengineering Fellowship Grant Award: $60,000 Proposal Title: Nano-Fibrous Scaffold for Functional Recovery After Spinal Cord Injury Principal Investigator – Evangeline Tzatzalos Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, W.M. Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience Fellowship Grant Award: $60,000 Proposal Title: Notch Promotes Radial Glial Phenotype in Neural Progenitors Principal Investigator – Ian Gaudet Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Biomedical Engineering Fellowship Grant Award: $60,000 Proposal Title: Neurite Guidance Using Photonically Derived Durotactic Gradients Principal Investigator – Ye He University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert. Wood Johnson Medical School Fellowship Grant Award: $60,000 Proposal Title: YY1 in Schwann Cell Proliferation and Myelination Principal Investigator – Kedar Mahajan University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Neurology and Neuroscience Fellowship Grant Award: $60,000 Proposal Title: IGF-1 Mediated Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Survival in SCI Principal Investigator – Damien Carrel Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Cell Biology & Neuroscience Fellowship Grant Award: $100,000 Proposal Title: Neuroprotective Effects of Cypin After SCI
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