Tulane researchers advance new therapies for spinal cord injury and surgical infection prevention
A Tulane University researcher is developing new therapies designed to both restore function after spinal cord injuries and prevent serious infections following surgery, advancing a growing research program at the intersection of engineering and medicine.
Dr. Sina Pourtaheri, a spine surgeon at Gulf Coast Orthopedics and an adjunct associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at Tulane University School of Science and Engineering, is leading a research program focused on developing and testing new therapies that deliver drugs and biologically active molecules directly at the site of injury or surgery.
The work is anchored by a $3.5 million National Institutes of Health grant supporting research on spinal cord regeneration. The project builds on earlier studies showing that a protein-based “nanocapsule therapy” can restore movement in paralyzed mice. Current efforts aim to improve that technology to enhance nerve regeneration and functional recovery.
“We showed that in models of spinal cord injury, we can restore function in paralyzed limbs,” Pourtaheri said. “Now we’re developing newer versions of that technology to improve outcomes and move closer to what could help future patients.”
