Glossary
Understanding the biology, and the treatments needed to repair and restore the spinal cord can involve some complex language and concepts.
Although we try to keep our language simple for our supporters, there may be some terms you come across which you may not be familiar with. Our short glossary of terms cover some of the more common terminology which will help you understand more about our work.
Acute injury: The early stage of injury, usually the first few days or weeks after the spinal cord is damaged. This is when emergency treatment and early medical care are most critical.
Astrocyte: These are supportive cells in the brain and spinal cord. They’re like caretakers, making sure neurons have everything they need to work well. They also help clean up any messes or damage.
Axon: Imagine nerve cells as tiny messengers in our body. The axon is like their long arm that reaches out to pass along messages to other cells. These messages could be telling your hand to move away from something hot or your foot to take a step.
Axon Regeneration: After an injury, nerve cells try to heal by regrowing their long arms (axons) to reconnect with other cells. This process is like rebuilding a bridge that got damaged, allowing messages to flow again.
Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans (CSPGs): Molecules that form part of the scar tissue after nerve injury. They can block nerve repair, which is why NVG-291 is designed to overcome their effects
Complete injury: A spinal cord injury where there is no movement or feeling below the level of injury. This means the nerve signals cannot get through the damaged area of the spinal cord.
Electrophysiological measurements: A method that uses sensitive equipment to detect electrical signals produced by our nerves and muscles. It can detect even very small changes in movement or nerve activity.
Endpoint: A specific pre-defined goal or outcome that researchers set out to measure in a clinical trial, to see if the treatment is working. An endpoint may be classed as primary (the main result that the study is interested in capturing) or secondary (additional results that can help to provide a broader picture of the effects of a treatment).
First Dorsal Interosseus: A small muscle on the back of the hand, important for pinching and gripping. It is supplied by nerves in the cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal cord.
Glial Scar: When the nervous system gets injured, a tough scar-like barrier forms to protect the damaged area. Sometimes, though, this scar can block nerve regrowth, making it harder for messages to get through. Neuroinflammation: It’s like the body’s alarm system going off after an injury to help repair the damage. However, too much inflammation can sometimes cause more harm than good to the spinal-cord injury site.
GRASSP: GRASSP stands for Graded Redefined Assessment of Strength, Sensibility and Prehension. This is a special clinical test designed to measure how well people with spinal cord injuries in the neck (cervical SCI) can use their hands and arms
Incomplete injury: A spinal cord injury where some feeling or movement is still possible below the level of injury. This means some nerve signals can still travel past the injury site.
Microglia: They’re the immune system’s special forces in the brain and spinal cord. Microglia are like tiny soldiers that clean up debris, fight off invaders, and help with repairs when there’s damage.
Motor Function: The ability to move your muscles. This includes functions such as gripping or lifting your feet.
Myelin: Think of myelin as the protective coating around the long arm of the nerve cell (the axon). It’s like insulation on an electrical wire, helping messages travel faster through the nerve. When myelin is damaged, messages can slow down or even get mixed up.
Neuron: Neurons are like the body’s messaging system. They’re the cells responsible for passing messages between your brain, spinal cord, and the rest of your body. They’re the reason you can move, feel, and think.
Neuronal Connectivity: How well nerve cells communicate with each other, this can measured using electrophysiological tools.
Neuroplasticity: This is your brain’s amazing ability to change and adapt. It’s like when you practice something over and over, your brain gets better at it. After a spinal cord injury, neuroplasticity helps the nervous system find new ways to work around the injury.
Oligodendrocyte: These cells are myelin producers. They wrap the axons (the long arms of nerve cells) in the brain and spinal cord with myelin, making sure messages zip along quickly.
Peptide: A small molecule made up of building blocks called amino acids. Peptides can be designed to send messages in the body or help repair damage
Phase 1b/2a Trial: Clinical trials are often divided into sequential stages
- Phase 1b: Researchers test if the treatment is safe in a small group of people with a specific health condition.
- Phase 2a: Researchers test the effects of a specific treatment. These early phases are crucial for building evidence before larger studies.
Placebo: A treatment that looks just like the real one but does not contain any active ingredients.
Randomised controlled trial: is a type of study where participants are randomly placed into different groups. One group gets the real treatment, and the other gets a placebo or standard treatment.
Statistical significance: Calculations are used to determine whether certain effects have happened by chance. If something is statistically significant, it gives researchers more confidence that the treatment is genuinely having an effect.
Sub-acute injury: While there is no universal definition, typically this refers to a spinal cord injury that is less than one year old, but not immediately after injury. It usually refers to the recovery period between a few weeks and 12 months after the injury.
Tibialis Anterior: A muscle along the front of the lower leg that helps lift the foot. It is supplied by nerves in the lumbar region of the spinal cord.
Treatment Approaches
Neuromodulation: This treatment involves using electrical or chemical signals to modify nerve activity. In spinal cord injury, neuromodulation aims to restore function by stimulating or inhibiting nerve activity. Techniques include spinal cord stimulation, where electrodes are placed along the spinal cord to manage pain or enhance function, and brain-spine interfaces to really bring the intent of movement and sensory information between the brain and spinal cord.
Rehabilitation: Rehabilitation is a multifaceted approach that focuses on helping individuals with spinal cord injuries improve function, adapt to life changes, and achieve the highest possible level of independence. Rehabilitation is often combined with other treatment approaches to maximise the potential for restoring and regaining function.
Pharmacological Approaches: Pharmacological treatments for spinal cord injury involve the use of medications to manage symptoms, reduce inflammation, and potentially promote healing. Recent research focuses on neuroprotective drugs that aim to minimize damage to the spinal cord after injury and promote recovery.
Gene Therapy: Gene therapy aims to treat or prevent diseases by modifying or correcting genes within cells. In spinal cord injury research, gene therapy seeks to introduce specific genes into the spinal cord to promote nerve cell survival, enhance regeneration, or limit inflammation. This innovative approach holds promise for repairing damaged spinal cord tissue and improving functional outcomes by altering the genetic instructions within the injured area.
Intermittent Hypoxia: A treatment method used for spinal cord injury. It involves short periods of reduced oxygen levels during breathing exercises. This technique is believed to stimulate the body’s natural responses to improve breathing and muscle function below the level of the injury. By exposing the body to brief intervals of low oxygen, it encourages positive changes in the nervous system, potentially aiding in recovery and function for individuals with spinal cord injuries.
