Development of Light-Rehabilitation after spinal cord injury using optogenetics thechniques

• Project/Area Number: 26750178
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Rehabilitation science/Welfare engineering
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Takashima Kenta 東京大学, 大学院工学系研究科(工学部), 特任研究員 (80722751)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2016)
• Budget Amount: ¥3,900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥900,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥1,950,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥450,000); Fiscal Year 2014: ¥1,950,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥450,000)
• Keywords: オプトジェネティクス / 脊髄損傷 / 歩行機能再建 / リハビリテーション / 脊髄損傷治療

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Optogenetic techniques enable light-mediated control of specific neural activity or behavior. Recently, optogenetic techniques have been applied into therapeutic treatments through the identification of neural circuit targets. Until now, no therapeutic approach yet permits the restoration of locomotion after severe spinal cord injury (SCI) using optogenetic techniques. Here, we present that after complete paralysis of channelrhodopsin2-Venus transgenic (ChR2V+) rats, bipedal locomotion was restored by using a combination of optogenetic and pharmacological therapies. These techniques offer a potential method to improve the motor function of patients who have suffered severe spinal cord injuries.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Design of small-size pouch motors for rat gait rehabilitation device. (2015)
  • Author(s): Shih-Yin Chang, Takashima K, Nishikawa S, Niiyama R, Someya T, Onodera H, Kuniyoshi Y
  • Journal Title: Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society Volume: 37th Pages: 4578-4581
  • DOI: 10.1109/embc.2015.7319413
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] X-ray phase-contrast computed tomography visualizes the microstructure and degradation profile of implanted biodegradable scaffolds after spinal cord injury (2015)
  • Author(s): Takashima K, Hoshino M, Uesugi K, Yagi N, Matsuda S, Nakahira A, Osumi N, Kohzuki M, Onodera H.
  • Journal Title: J Synchrotron Radiat Volume: 22 Issue: 1 Pages: 136-42
  • DOI: 10.1107/s160057751402270x
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Presentation] Optogenetic therapy for restoring locomotion after severe spinal cord injury (2016)
  • Author(s): Kenta Takashima, Naoji Matsuhisa, Peter Zalar, Akira Shimada, Tomoyuki Yokota, Masaki Sekino, Hiromu Yawo, Takao Someya, Hiroshi Onodera
  • Organizer: 第39回日本神経科学大会
  • Place of Presentation: 神奈川県横浜市西区 パシフィコ横浜
  • Year and Date: 2016-07-19
• [Presentation] オプトジェネティクスを用いた脊髄損傷後の歩行リハビリテーション治療の開発 (2016)
  • Author(s): 高島健太, 松久直司, ザーラーピーター, 嶋田啓, 李元領, 横田知之, 関野正樹, 関谷毅, 八尾寛, 染谷隆夫, 小野寺宏
  • Organizer: 第51回日本理学療法学術大会
  • Place of Presentation: 北海道札幌市白石区 札幌コンベンションセンター
  • Year and Date: 2016-05-27
• [Presentation] オプトジェネティクスを用いた中枢疾患治療～脊髄離断動物における歩行パターン回復 (2016)
  • Author(s): 高島健太, 松久直司, ザーラーピーター, 嶋田啓,横田知之, 関野正樹,八尾寛, 染谷隆夫, 小野寺宏
  • Organizer: 第5回東北脳科学ウィンタースクール
  • Place of Presentation: 宮城県白石市 小原温泉旅館かつらや会議室
  • Year and Date: 2016-02-20
• [Presentation] Optogenetic therapy for restoring locomotion after severe spinal cord injury (2015)
  • Author(s): Kenta Takashima, Naoji Matsuhisa, Peter Zalar, Akira Shimada, Tomoyuki Yokota, Masaki Sekino, Hiromu Yawo, Takao Someya, Hiroshi Onodera
  • Organizer: 第７回 光操作研究会
  • Place of Presentation: 東京都文京区 東京医科歯科大学鈴木章夫記念講堂
  • Year and Date: 2015-12-04
  • Int'l Joint Research