Blocking a blood-vessel protein to protect the brain after COVID-19
Official title: Investigating the role and therapeutic potential of the alpha5beta1 integrin in risk factors for COVID-19-associated cognitive impairment
Funded at Tulane University of Louisiana · NIH-11457047 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are testing whether a drug that blocks the alpha5beta1 integrin can protect the brain and reduce memory and thinking problems after COVID-19 or in people with vascular dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tulane University of Louisiana NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Orleans, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $721,756 |
| NIH project number | 4R01AG078677-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11457047 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People most likely to be relevant are older adults with vascular dementia or individuals experiencing new or worsening memory and thinking problems after COVID‑19.
✕Less likely to help
People whose cognitive symptoms are caused solely by non‑vascular conditions (for example, pure Alzheimer’s disease without vascular injury) or who have no post‑COVID cognitive complaints may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
This project looks at how the alpha5beta1 integrin, a protein on brain blood vessels, contributes to blood-brain barrier damage, reduced blood flow, and thinking problems linked to vascular dementia and COVID-19. Using laboratory models of reduced brain blood flow and SARS‑CoV‑2 exposure, scientists will measure integrin levels, blood-brain barrier integrity, inflammation, white matter damage, and behavior related to memory and thinking. They will test a clinically validated peptide called ATN-161 that blocks alpha5beta1 to see if it prevents virus entry, lessens vascular injury, and improves cognitive outcomes in these models. Results will help determine whether blocking this integrin could be developed into a treatment to prevent or slow post‑COVID cognitive decline and vascular dementia.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to a drug that prevents or reduces cognitive decline after COVID‑19 and in vascular dementia.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical studies in stroke and reduced blood‑flow models show that blocking alpha5beta1 with ATN‑161 reduces blood‑brain barrier damage and cognitive deficits, and early data suggest it can limit SARS‑CoV‑2 infection, but human trials have not yet been done.
Where this research is happening
-
Tulane University of Louisiana
New Orleans, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bix, Gregory Jaye — Tulane University of Louisiana
- Study coordinator: Bix, Gregory Jaye
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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.