HomeThe utilization of genetic engineering for the treatment of spinal cord injury DUIRI - Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship Spring 2026 Accepted Global Health Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition that effects over 15 million people globally. Characterized by the loss of sensory, motor, and autonomic function, those with SCI reportedly have a decreased quality of life and rely heavily on healthcare utilization. While current therapies exist, they are functionally limited - usually only treating one aspect of a body-wide problem. To overcome these short comings, we propose the use of a novel gene therapy-based approach to treat SCI. This project aims to boost the body's own cellular and molecular capabilities to compensate and overcome the damage caused by SCI. This project addresses a global health issue because SCIs are seen around the world. These injuries do not discriminate and can be sustained in a multitude of different ways. Furthermore, SCI is an economic burden according to the World Health Organization, thus it effects more people than just those suffering from SCI. Rachel Lauren Stingel Students on this project are expected to assist graduate students on work in addition to conducting their own independent experiments. Work on this project is primarily in vivo and will require the student to learn in vivo-based techniques, cellular and molecular assays, and statistical analysis. Additionally, work on this project is very hands-on and requires the student to be present during experiments. https://www.vet.purdue.edu/cpr/ Students must be enrolled in a major with a focus in biological sciences. This includes, but is not limited to, biomedical engineering, neurobiology and physiology, biology, health and disease, etc. Students must be in good academic standing with at least a 3.0 GPA. 0 4 (estimated)