Blood test to predict delayed brain injury after an aneurysm bleed

Discovery of Plasma Biomarkers of Delayed Cerebral Ischemia after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

NIH-funded research University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston · NIH-11467911

This project is creating a blood test to spot which people who had a brain aneurysm bleed are likely to develop delayed brain injury in the days after the bleed.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Houston, United States)
Project IDNIH-11467911 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

If you survive a ruptured brain aneurysm, this work looks for signs in blood taken soon after the bleed that may signal a later complication called delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI). Researchers will collect plasma samples from patients hospitalized with subarachnoid hemorrhage, measure candidate protein markers, and compare levels between those who do and do not develop DCI. The team will use blinded testing and validation steps to try to identify a reliable marker panel. The goal is to find a blood signal that helps doctors target monitoring and treatment to the patients who need it most.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults hospitalized with a recent aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, especially those within the first days to weeks after the initial bleed, are the intended participants.

Not a fit: People without a recent aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage or those with other types of stroke or stable, remote history of aneurysm rupture are unlikely to benefit from this work.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could let clinicians predict who is at high risk for delayed brain injury so monitoring and treatments can be focused, reducing unnecessary ICU time and complications.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has suggested possible blood markers but none have had enough accuracy for routine clinical use, so this work builds on promising but still unproven approaches.

Where this research is happening

Houston, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.