Manoj Gottipati, a research associate at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, has been awarded a $100,000 postdoctoral fellowship from the Paralyzed Veterans of America Research Foundation to support his research into a potential therapy for spinal cord injury (SCI).

SCI activates inflammatory cells and tissue-resident astrocytes, which are star-shaped cells found in the brain and spinal cord that play an important role in maintaining tissue homeostasis. The astrocyte activation, known as astrogliosis, triggers the formation of a scar that prevents regenerating neural cells from reaching the injured site.

The therapeutic approach that Gottipati will study uses an anti-inflammatory cytokine known as Interleukin-4 (IL-4) — a substance that is produced within the body by immune cells. IL-4 has been shown to reduce tissue damage, encourage tissue repair, and promote recovery in pre-clinical models of SCI. Researchers hope IL-4 could also prevent astrogliosis, promoting the regeneration of axons.

Gottipati will incorporate IL-4 into biomaterial strategies developed at Rensselaer in the lab of Biomedical Engineering Professor Ryan Gilbert.

Paralyzed Veterans of America is a nonprofit organization that funds scientists whose research could improve the lives of veterans and others who have spinal cord injury and disorders, as well as diseases like multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis — known as ALS.

Gottipati’s research effort is one of six nationwide chosen to receive this support.