My PhD project involves investigating plasticity and synaptogenesis after spinal cord injury (SCI) and potential therapeutic use of chondroitinase. Chondroitinase ABC has been shown to promote midline sprouting in the intact corticospinal tract (CST), associated with functional improvement after SCI. My main project will utilise a rodent unilateral pyramidotomy model, comprising a one-sided lesion of the CST at the level of the medullary pyramids, allowing study of plasticity in the intact CST. I will be using genetically encoded reporters of presynaptic function, which represent novel tools to assess synaptogenesis and gain insight into the anatomical and functional status of new connections immunohistochemically, following unilateral pyramidotomy and intraspinal delivery of a ChABC lentiviral vector. An additional property of one of the reporters is pH-dependent fluorescence upon exocytosis. This tool will eventually be utilised in an ex vivo electrophysiology slice preparation.