Blood test to find dangerous brain aneurysms
Official title: Development of a Molecular Diagnostic to Identify Dangerous Intracranial Aneurysms
Funded at Neurovascular Diagnostics, INC. · NIH-11163352 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is creating a blood test to help doctors tell which people with brain aneurysms are more likely to have a dangerous rupture.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Neurovascular Diagnostics, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Buffalo, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2019 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $834,755 |
| NIH project number | 5R44NS115314-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11163352 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with an unruptured intracranial aneurysm found on imaging who are weighing whether to monitor or treat their aneurysm.
✕Less likely to help
People without aneurysms, those with a ruptured aneurysm needing emergency care, or patients unable to access participating centers may not benefit from this project.
What this research studies
If you have an unruptured brain aneurysm, this project is developing a blood test that looks for molecular signals linked to dangerous aneurysms. You may be asked to give a blood sample and share clinical information while researchers compare samples from people with stable aneurysms and those that proved high-risk. The team will use laboratory biomarker assays and computer algorithms to spot patterns that predict rupture risk without invasive angiography. The aim is a simpler, lower-risk test doctors can use alongside scans to guide treatment versus monitoring decisions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help avoid unnecessary procedures for low-risk aneurysms and speed treatment for those at high risk.
How similar studies have gone: Imaging-based risk scores exist, but blood-based tests to predict aneurysm rupture are mostly experimental and represent a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Neurovascular Diagnostics, INC.
Buffalo, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Poppenberg, Kerry — Neurovascular Diagnostics, INC.
- Study coordinator: Poppenberg, Kerry
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Blood test to detect intracranial aneurysms and estimate risk in families
A new blood test called AneuScreen+ aims to identify people at risk for brain aneurysms and predict rupture risk using a simple blood sample.
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Identifying dangerous brain aneurysms using blood tests
This study is working on a new blood test to help doctors find dangerous brain aneurysms that might burst, making it easier and safer to decide which ones need urgent treatment and which can be watched over time.
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.