3D-printed human brain and blood-vessel model to reveal effects of traumatic brain injury
Lasting Impacts: Dynamic, Fully Natural Bioprinted 3D Human Neurovascular Biomimetic Model to Study Traumatic Brain Injury Pathophysiology
Researchers are building a 3D-printed human brain-and-blood-vessel model to see how traumatic brain injury leads to long-term brain damage and dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Livermore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11187065 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project creates a fully natural, perfusable 3D human neurovascular unit using bioprinting and human-derived cells to mimic brain tissue and blood vessels. The team will apply controlled injury to the model and track microvascular damage, inflammatory responses, and tau protein changes linked to chronic traumatic encephalopathy and Alzheimer-type pathology. The work combines expertise from a national lab and an Alzheimer’s disease center to link acute injury events to later degenerative changes. Findings are intended to reveal mechanisms, biomarkers, and potential targets for therapies that could prevent or slow long-term decline after TBI.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with a history of traumatic brain injury, concussion, or related cognitive decline may be most relevant for donating samples or participating in linked clinical studies.
Not a fit: Individuals without brain injury or those seeking immediate treatment options for acute symptoms are unlikely to gain direct, immediate benefit from this lab-based project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this model could identify how TBI damages brain blood vessels and triggers dementia-related changes, pointing to new ways to prevent or treat long-term consequences.
How similar studies have performed: Related organ-on-chip and 3D brain models have shown promise for modeling blood-brain barrier and injury responses, but fully natural perfusable human neurovascular models for TBI and tau-driven degeneration remain cutting-edge and not yet proven in clinical translation.
Where this research is happening
Livermore, United States
- Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC — Livermore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Moya, Monica Lizet — Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
- Study coordinator: Moya, Monica Lizet
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.