Blood test to improve treatment decisions for newborns with brain injury
Official title: Blood test to aid treatment decisions for perinatal asphyxiation
Funded at Meso Scale Diagnostics, LLC · NIH-10792573 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new blood test for newborns who have had a serious lack of oxygen to the brain, called hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), to help doctors understand how badly their brains are affected and decide on the best treatments to improve their chances of recovery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Meso Scale Diagnostics, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rockville, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2020 |
| Project end | September 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $435,526 |
| NIH project number | 5U01NS114144-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10792573 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are newborns diagnosed with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy who are at risk of severe brain injury.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not newborns or those without a diagnosis of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a highly sensitive blood test to measure specific proteins in the blood of newborns who have experienced hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), a serious condition caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain. By using this test, doctors can better assess the severity of brain injury in affected infants and make more informed treatment decisions, such as whether to use whole body cooling therapy. The goal is to identify which newborns are most likely to benefit from additional treatments, potentially improving their outcomes and reducing the risk of long-term disabilities. The study involves collaboration between academic and industrial partners to validate this innovative testing method.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatment strategies for newborns with brain injuries, ultimately improving survival rates and reducing disabilities.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using blood tests to assess brain injury in neonates, indicating that this approach could be a significant advancement in treatment.
Where this research is happening
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Meso Scale Diagnostics, LLC
Rockville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stengelin, Martin — Meso Scale Diagnostics, LLC
- Study coordinator: Stengelin, Martin
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.