Blood-brain barrier problems during bacterial meningitis
Official title: Blood-brain barrier dysfunction during bacterial meningitis
Funded at University of Texas Dallas · NIH-11431371 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying why the brain’s protective barrier fails during bacterial meningitis and how that leads to brain injury, with a focus on how bacteria invade brain cells and disrupt protective transporters.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Dallas NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richardson, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $475,659 |
| NIH project number | 1R01NS150478-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11431371 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with bacterial meningitis or those at risk could benefit from future therapies informed by these findings.
✕Less likely to help
There may be no direct benefit for individuals without meningitis or those not eligible for future trials based on the study’s current stage.
What this research studies
This project uses advanced human stem-cell models to reproduce the brain’s protective barrier and study what goes wrong when bacteria like Group B Streptococcus invade the brain. The team will look at how the bacteria hijack cellular uptake pathways and how they disrupt P-glycoprotein, a transporter that helps keep the brain clean. By identifying the signals and factors involved, this work aims to reveal targets for therapies that could prevent brain injury during meningitis. The study is designed to translate lab findings into insights that could inform future treatments for patients with bacterial meningitis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to new strategies to protect the brain and reduce neurological damage in meningitis patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in meningitis has shown that barrier dysfunction is linked to brain injury, and this study builds on that by using state-of-the-art human stem-cell models to pinpoint mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Dallas
Richardson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kim, Brandon Jonathan — University of Texas Dallas
- Study coordinator: Kim, Brandon Jonathan
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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-
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A study in Uganda aims to use faster, better tests and a new antifungal to help people with HIV who develop meningitis.
-
TB meningitis diagnostic test compare and cost study in sub-Saharan Africa
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A research study is testing easier, less invasive ways to diagnose meningitis in people living with HIV, with a focus on making diagnosis faster and more accurate in Africa and the US.
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A study in children with TB meningitis in South Africa will look at how inflammation and blood-clotting factors relate to brain injury and infarcts.
-
Serological clues to survival in HIV-related cryptococcal meningitis
This grant looks for antibody signals in the blood that could predict who survives cryptococcal meningitis in people with HIV.
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.