Altered microglia states and their link to white matter disease in VCID
Official title: Altered Microglia States and Microglia-Endothelial Cell Axis in Relation to White Matter Disease Progression in VCID
Funded at University of Edinburgh · NIH-11411497 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in brain tissue and animal models will explore how microglia and blood vessels interact to drive white matter damage and cognitive problems in vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID).
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Edinburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Edinburgh, United Kingdom) |
| Project start | September 18, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $406,299 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS134015-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11411497 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with VCID or risk factors for vascular-related cognitive impairment, and patients whose brain tissue or samples could contribute to related studies.
✕Less likely to help
People without VCID or risk factors for vascular cognitive impairment may not directly benefit from this specific mechanistic study.
What this research studies
Researchers will examine how different states of brain immune cells (microglia) and blood vessel cells influence white matter changes and cognitive function in VCID, using human tissue samples and animal models. The project will look at how microglia regulate tiny blood vessels and the blood-brain barrier, especially when blood flow is reduced. By mapping microglia–endothelial interactions across brain regions, the team aims to identify states that promote or protect against white matter damage. The work could inform future strategies to preserve white matter and cognition in people at risk for VCID and related disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to therapies that preserve white matter and slow cognitive decline in VCID.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has linked microglia–vascular interactions to white matter health, supporting a translational path, though direct human-vascular microglia targets in VCID remain under investigation.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh, United Kingdom Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Horsburgh, Karen — University of Edinburgh
- Study coordinator: Horsburgh, Karen
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.