Dr. Erika Williams shares findings from her Clinical Research Training Scholarship
Meet the researcher: 2023 CRTS recipient Dr. Erika Williams
Erika Williams, MD, PhD, a neuromuscular fellow at Massachusetts General Brigham, was one of our first Clinical Research Training Scholarship recipients in 2023. Her research focused on the autonomic nervous system (ANS), a component of the peripheral nervous system.
“The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy‘s Clinical Research Training Scholarship made this work possible,” Williams shared. “The transition to an independent research career is a particularly vulnerable and formative time. Like many scientists at this stage, I have spent years training to take the next step toward building my own laboratory and research program. This scholarship has been critical in providing the required protected time and resources needed to develop a unique and sustainable research program to launch my independent career. While the discoveries made so far are exciting, opportunities like this extend far beyond the immediate scientific results. These awards play a vital role in supporting the development of scientists like me, who hope to continue to make meaningful discoveries throughout a life-long career.”
Why study the autonomic nervous system in relation to peripheral neuropathy?
Our bodies rely on the autonomic nervous system to control vital functions like heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and digestion, without us having to think about it. When peripheral neuropathy affects this system, it can cause serious and life-changing issues that impact daily life. The goal of this research was to better understand how the peripheral autonomic nervous system is organized in humans.
About the study
The study looked at two main types of neurons:
- sensory neurons: receive signals from internal organs
- motor neurons: help control how those organs respond
To study these nerves, researchers collected nerve tissue from human donors. They created a biobank that now includes sensory neurons from more than 30 donors and motor neurons from more than 40 donors.
Building a map of autonomic nerve cells
Using these samples, Williams’ research team studied which genes are active in each nerve cell. This creates a detailed map of the “molecular tools” each neuron uses to sense signals from the body, communicate with the brain, and control organ function. This information helps explain how different types of autonomic neurons work and how they may be affected by disease.
Key findings from the study
Thanks to our funding, researchers found that many features of human autonomic neurons are shared with other species. This is encouraging for developing treatments tested in animal models. At the same time, important differences unique to humans were discovered. These human-specific features are critical for understanding the nervous system more accurately, and for guiding future research.
What’s next for this research
The team is now expanding this molecular map and comparing neurons from donors with different medical histories, risk factors, and types of neuropathy. They are also using these findings to develop new tools that may allow scientists to better control specific autonomic nerve circuits for therapeutic benefit.
About the Clinical Research Training Scholarship
The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy (FPN) has been awarding Clinical Research Training Scholarships (CRTS), in collaboration with the American Brain Foundation (ABF) and the American Academy of Neurology, (AAN) since 2023. The CRTS program encourages emerging experts to develop innovative solutions for treating or preventing peripheral neuropathy. Through these awards, we provide $150,000 in peripheral neuropathy (PN) research funding over two years.
Williams’ research helps us better understand how peripheral neuropathy affects the autonomic nervous system. It also shows why supporting early-career scientists is so important. This work was made possible by our commitment to research and innovation.
To learn more about this research or how you can help make sure programs like this continue, contact us at [email protected] and get involved in supporting peripheral neuropathy research.
