12/5/25 Valentina Cigliola: Innate Mechanisms of Spinal Cord Regeneration
Neuroscience brown bag
Valentina Cigliola, PhD
Assistant Professor, Pharmacology
Date: Friday, December 5, 2025
Time: 1:25- 2:15
Location: 316 Wilson Hall
Innate Mechanisms of Spinal Cord Regeneration
Adult mammals including humans fail to regenerate the spinal cord after injury, leading to sensorimotor deficits and paralysis. In contrast, zebrafish can fully regenerate and recover motor function after a complete spinal cord transection. This regenerative capacity relies on neurogenesis, formation of a glial and axonal bridge between the severed stumps, and restoration of synaptic circuits. I will discuss novel factors that trigger innate spinal cord regeneration and their underlying epigenetic regulation. I will also highlight how understanding mechanisms of innate regeneration in zebrafish can guide approaches to ultimately treat spinal cord injury in adult mammals.