![Novel Target for Nerve Repair]()
Men with prostate cancer often undergo radical prostatectomy—a surgical procedure that commonly causes erectile dysfunction due to damage to the cavernous nerve (CN). The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases has awarded a four-year, $2.2 million grant to David Sharp, Ph.D., and Kelvin Davies, Ph.D., to test a novel strategy for repairing CN damage following prostatectomy. The researchers will investigate whether inhibiting expression of the enzyme fidgetin-like 2 (FL2) can speed-up nerve repair after CN injury in rodent models. FL2 interferes with the growth of axons by severing microtubules. Dr. Sharp is professor of physiology & biophysics and of ophthalmology and visual sciences. Dr. Davies is professor of urology and of physiology & biophysics. (1R01DK109314-01A1)
Posted on: Tuesday, May 30, 2017