Rebuilding functional visual connections in the adult CNS

Zhigang He is a professor of neurology at Harvard. His research is focused on mechanisms that prevent axons from regenerating in the adult central nervous system.

Brain or spinal cord injury is still a major medical problem and there is no effective treatment of promoting functional recovery. A key issue is that axons connecting different brain regions are damaged and cannot be repaired. For example, the axons in the optic nerve are the only channels transmitting visual signals from eye to brain. If damaged, our brain will not be able to receive visual signals and be blinded. Thus, a logic therapy should be to stimulate damaged axons to regrow to the targets and reconnect the eyes and brain. I will describe our findings why injured axons cannot regenerate. I will also illustrate the challenges we are facing in moving from anatomical connections to behavioral recovery.