Blocking FOXO4 to protect the brain after stroke
Official title: FOXOs in ischemic stroke
Funded at Texas Tech University Health Scis Center · NIH-11328855 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers aim to find out if blocking a protein called FOXO4 can protect the brain and reduce Alzheimer-like damage after an ischemic stroke.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas Tech University Health Scis Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lubbock, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $382,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS124846-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11328855 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for any future clinical testing would be people who recently experienced an ischemic stroke and are eligible for early-phase trials of FOXO4-targeting therapies.
✕Less likely to help
People without ischemic stroke or those whose dementia is caused by non-stroke mechanisms would not be expected to benefit directly from this FOXO4-focused work.
What this research studies
This project uses mouse models of ischemic stroke to study how FOXO4 affects brain inflammation, mitochondrial function, and oxidative stress that can lead to dementia-like changes. Investigators will compare normal mice with mice that lack FOXO4 and test ways to selectively inhibit FOXO4 activity to see whether brain injury and Alzheimer-like pathology are reduced. They will analyze brain tissue, gene expression, and blood measures to track inflammation, cell survival, and changes linked to Alzheimer's disease. The work is preclinical and aims to identify whether FOXO4 is a promising target for future therapies that could be developed for people who have had a stroke.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, blocking FOXO4 could lead to new treatments that limit brain damage after stroke and lower the risk of later Alzheimer-like dementia.
How similar studies have gone: Related preclinical work shows FOXO inhibition can protect peripheral tissues and pilot mouse data indicate FOXO4 knockout reduces brain injury, but this specific approach has not yet been tested in humans.
Where this research is happening
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Texas Tech University Health Scis Center
Lubbock, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Hongmin — Texas Tech University Health Scis Center
- Study coordinator: Wang, Hongmin
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Improving blood flow after stroke by breaking down NETs
Aims to see if breaking down neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) after an ischemic stroke can improve blood flow and reduce brain injury in patients.
-
EP2 blockers to protect the brain after a stroke
Aims to test brain-permeable EP2 antagonists to reduce damage after ischemic stroke and improve recovery.
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Genetic testing to find causes of early-onset ischemic stroke
This project uses whole-exome sequencing to look for gene changes that may cause ischemic stroke in adults who had a stroke at a young age.
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Targeted nanomedicine to protect the brain after stroke
A targeted drug-delivery approach aims to boost blood-brain barrier repair and reduce brain damage after an acute ischemic stroke in patients at risk.
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How biological aging and blood proteins relate to thinking after a stroke
This project looks at whether measures of biological aging and patterns of blood proteins help explain which stroke survivors keep their thinking sharp and which go on to develop vascular dementia.
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Repurposing NEXLETOL to treat ischemic stroke
Aims to see if the cholesterol drug NEXLETOL can help people after an ischemic stroke by supporting brain energy use and reducing injury.
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.