Aldo-keto reductase (AKR) helps brain BH4 levels after injury
Official title: Aldo-keto reductase’s mechanism in brain injury from hypoxia-ischemia and tetrahydrobiopterin deficiency
Funded at Medical College of Wisconsin · NIH-11447154 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant tests whether brain AKR enzymes can boost BH4 levels and support better brain function after hypoxia-ischemia-related injury.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical College of Wisconsin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Milwaukee, United States) |
| Project start | September 9, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $625,792 |
| NIH project number | 1R01NS146896-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11447154 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with acquired brain injury or related BH4 deficiency conditions who could participate in future translational studies or trials stemming from this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without BH4-related brain injury or those not connected to future translational efforts may not experience direct benefits.
What this research studies
This project looks at how brain enzymes called aldo-keto reductases might compensate for BH4 production after brain injury. Researchers will study how AKRs interact with the Nrf2 pathway to keep BH4 and neurotransmitters at healthy levels. They will use animal models, including SPR-knockout rabbits, to understand how AKRs affect motor and neurological outcomes. The goal is to identify a new, brain-focused way to protect or restore function after injury.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new brain-protective strategies that restore BH4 and improve motor and cognitive function after acquired brain injury.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show that manipulating AKR pathways affects BH4 in some models, but translating to brain protection is still being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vasquez Vivar, Jeannette M. — Medical College of Wisconsin
- Study coordinator: Vasquez Vivar, Jeannette M.
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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.