Recovering respiratory motor and muscle function after severe spinal cord injury

Using an innovative cross-disciplinary approach, I will directly explore the pathophysiology, function, and mechanisms of respiratory motor recovery following severe spinal cord injury (SCI) and determine if restoration of this activity is sufficient to mitigate increased rates of morbidity and mortality caused by acquired infections. Treatment strategies for SCI have focused on restoring spinal neuronal circuitry. I will determine if a novel treatment strategy which targets both neural growth/plasticity in the spinal cord and muscle mitochondrial activity, can restore systemic respiratory motor function after severe SCI. I will use innovative techniques including bi-planer X-ray videography and ventilatory pattern variance to assess the pathophysiology of the respiratory system following injury and recovery. Further, in physiologically relevant conditions, I will assess cyclical power generated by respiratory muscles, alterations in neuronal circuitry, and model changes in muscle oxygen transport to determine the systemic mechanisms behind respiratory deficit and recovery. Finally, most SCI patients show increased morbidity and mortality with reduced functional activity due to post-injury acquired pneumonia infections. For the first time, I shall assess whether my combined treatment strategy can overcome the deleterious effect of pneumonia infection and the mechanisms through which sustained systemic functional respiratory recovery can occur.