Blocking RIPK1 to prevent thinking problems after a brain hemorrhage
Official title: Targeting Receptor Interacting Protein Kinase-1 in the Chronic Period of Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11248382 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research tests whether stopping a protein called RIPK1 can prevent memory and thinking problems that often develop after bleeding in the brain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $475,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS131281-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11248382 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who have had an intracerebral hemorrhage and are at risk of developing vascular cognitive impairment or dementia would be the main group who could benefit from these findings.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose dementia is driven solely by non-vascular causes (for example pure Alzheimer’s disease without a history of brain bleed) may not benefit from RIPK1-targeted approaches.
What this research studies
From a patient point of view, researchers are studying how intracerebral hemorrhage (bleeding in the brain) leads to rapid decline in memory and thinking. They will use laboratory models to turn off or block the RIPK1 protein and watch whether that stops long-term blood–brain barrier damage and inflammation. The team will look at immune cells and blood vessel cells in the brain using genetic 'kinase-dead' mice and bone marrow transplant approaches to see which cells cause the damage. They will also measure markers of stress and inflammation and test behavior to link those changes to thinking problems.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that prevent or reduce dementia that follows brain hemorrhage.
How similar studies have gone: Animal studies have already shown that blocking RIPK1 prevents blood–brain barrier damage and cognitive problems in mouse models, but this approach has not been tested in people yet.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Whalen, Michael J — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Whalen, Michael J
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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.