Researchers at the Flanagan lab discovered a novel therapeutic approach for stimulation of neuronal regeneration. They demonstrated that type II receptor protein tyrosine phosphatases (RPTPs) get activated by several heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs). Binding of HSPGs to RPTPs displaces inhibitory chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CPSGs) from the receptors and stimulates neuronal injury repair in vitro and in animal models of spinal cord injury, stroke and incontinence.