This handbook provides a comprehensive overview for students, clinicians and researchers planning to enter the field of neural regeneration, combining the latest knowledge with an understanding of all important model organisms in one handy volume. By covering the strengths and weaknesses as well as possible applications of different models it saves researchers both time and resources in their choice of the appropriate model organism. An equally valuable introduction for the novice planning to enter the field.

Catherina G. Becker is a senior lecturer and Thomas Becker is a senior researcher at the University of Edinburgh, UK. They are collaborating on spinal cord regeneration in adult zebrafish. Throughout their careers, the editors have shared a keen interest in central nervous system regeneration in different model organisms. They began their work in 1993, when both received their PhDs form the University of Bremen, Germany, for the analysis of central nervous system development and regeneration in amphibians. Catherina and Thomas Becker continued their studies, focusing on the role of cell recognition molecules in zebrafish, during postdoctoral studies at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zürich, Switzerland, the University of California at Irvine, USA, and at the University Hospital in Hamburg, Germany. From here they moved their group to Edinburgh. Their research has been continually supported by prestigious national and international fellowships and research grants.

I Mammalian Models of CNS Regeneration
The Role of Inhibitory Molecules in Limiting Axonal Regeneration in the Mammalian Spinal Cord (Anderson, Fabes, Hunt)
Intrinsic Factors Contributing to Axon Regeneration in the Mammalian Nervous System (Rossi)
Cellular Grafting Strategies to Enhance Regeneration in the Mammalian Spinal Cord (Whittemore, Benton)
Stimulating Intrinsic Growth Potential in Mammalian Neurons (Ylera, Bradke)
II Mammalian and Non-mammalian Models of Spinal Function
Spinal Motor Functions in Lampreys (Grillner, Wallén)
Genetic Approaches to Spinal Locomotor Function in Mammals (Kullander, Vallstedt)
Comparative Analysis of Descending Supraspinal Projections in Amphibians (González, ten Donkelaar)
III Non-mammalian Models of Successful Spinal Cord Regeneration
Regeneration in the Lamprey Spinal Cord (Selzer, Shifman, Jin)
Functional Regeneration in the Larval Zebrafish Spinal Cord (Fetcho, Bhatt, Patzelova, McLean, Zottoli)
Zebrafish as a Model System for Successful Spinal Cord Regeneration (Becker, Becker)
IV Non-mammalian Models of Visual System Regeneration
Functional Aspects of Optic Nerve Regeneration in Non-Mammalian Vertebrates (Dunlop)
Optic Nerve Regeneration in Goldfish (Kato, Koriyama, Matsukawa, Sugitani)
Gene Regulation During Axon and Tissue Regeneration in the Retina of Zebrafish (Goldman, Senut, Fausett, Veldman)