Novel Therapeutic Approaches for Neural Repair
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Neurobiology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 July 2023) | Viewed by 11196
Special Issue Editors
Interests: neural circuit repair
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The high precision of brain circuits is established during development and relies on processes involving axon outgrowth, synapse formation, and the elimination of some synapses and cells, in addition to myelination processes. These processes involve both permissive and inhibitory molecules, which are highly specific to the developmental stage, and thus repairing these connections after injury or in pathology is susceptible to connection errors and associated functional abnormalities. Even in situations where treatments promote neuronal survival or replacement with grafts, these neurons still need to develop new connections to integrate into and repair the neural network. Therefore, avoiding connection errors during repair is still a major challenge in neuroscience. As the cellular environment is very different in the adult versus the developing brain, repair processes cannot simply recapitulate development. Although many molecules have been identified as potential treatments through their capacity to increase neuronal survival or induce axonal sprouting, they are often poorly translational, requiring invasive administration, and are not necessarily feasible for clinical use (e.g., the injection of neurotrophic factors to increase axonal sprouting).
To advance our understanding and ability to repair neural circuits and restore brain function, it becomes essential not only to identify potentially useful molecules but also to determine the means of delivering them to the appropriate region of the brain.
This Special Issue invites articles addressing the questions of what molecular processes that are more readily applicable to the clinic can facilitate or hinder repair; how they can be delivered into the central nervous system to promote reconnectivity within neural circuits; and how functional and structural improvement can be evaluated after treatment.
Topics include, but are not limited to:
- Psychomotor activation in environmental enrichment;
- The use of virtual reality;
- Noninvasive brain stimulation;
- Deep brain stimulation;
- Pharmacological or combinatorial methods of promoting recovery and/or behavioural adaptation.
Articles may be original research papers, reviews, or short communications.
Prof. Dr. Rachel M. Sherrard
Prof. Dr. Ann M. Lohof
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- neural circuit repair
- rehabilitation
- noninvasive brain stimulation
- synapse formation
- neurodegenerative disease
- traumatic lesion
- reinnervation
- translational research
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