Protect and regenerate: Targeting Protrudin and NMNAT2 after spinal cord injury Wolfson Sensory, Pain and Regeneration Centre, School of Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience

Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to devastating and often permanent loss of movement and sensation, yet there are currently no effective therapies that restore function. This PhD project will explore new ways to protect and regenerate nerve cells after spinal cord injury by combining molecular biology, pharmacology, and gene therapy in translational models of central nervous system repair.

The work will focus on two key molecular pathways that have shown strong promise in pre-clinical studies of the visual system: axon organelle transport to support axon growth and regeneration, and NAD metabolism, a pathway that promotes neuronal survival by sustaining essential cellular functions. Together, these pathways may provide a powerful approach to protect neurons from secondary degeneration and promote long-range axon regeneration after injury.

This is a collaborative project between the Eva Lab at King’s College London, Wolfson SPaRC (Sensory, Pain and Regeneration Centre) and the Williams Lab at Centre for Eye Research Australia, a world-leading group in ocular neuroprotection. The project will integrate the complementary expertise of both teams, combining pharmacological neuroprotection developed in the Williams lab with AAV-based gene therapy and axon regeneration strategies pioneered in the Eva lab.

Students will be trained across the full translational spectrum, from neuronal cell biology and gene therapy design, through in vitro mechanistic assays, to in vivo models of spinal cord injury for testing neuroprotective and regenerative outcomes. Techniques will include viral vector design, immunocytochemistry, confocal microscopy, tissue processing and imaging, quantitative gene and protein analyses, and behavioural and histological assessment of neural recovery. These studies will identify how two key pathways interact to protect and regenerate injured neurons, providing mechanistic insight and a platform for future therapy development.

The successful candidate will join a vibrant neuroscience community within Wolfson SPaRC, working alongside leading regeneration and pain researchers and benefiting from the extensive postgraduate training programmes at King’s College London. Regular meetings with the Williams lab will provide additional supervision, international collaboration experience, and opportunities to develop specialist skills in data analysis and neuroprotective pathway biology.

We are looking for a motivated student with a strong interest in neurobiology, molecular and cellular neuroscience, or regenerative medicine. The project will suit someone who enjoys a balance of molecular benchwork and experimental models, and who is keen to contribute to translational science with real clinical potential.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a collaborative, multidisciplinary project combining pharmacology, gene therapy, and cutting-edge neuroscience to discover new therapeutic strategies for spinal cord repair.