Boosting natural growth hormone to ease long-term effects of traumatic brain injury
Official title: Alleviation of chronic TBI through modulation of calcium signaling
Funded at U.s. Dept/vets Affairs Medical Center · NIH-11415403 · Data updated 2026-11-12
The team will try to restore the brain's own growth hormone production in people with chronic TBI by targeting calcium channels in pituitary cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | U.s. Dept/vets Affairs Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I21RX004379-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11415403 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with chronic traumatic brain injury and evidence of growth hormone deficiency from hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction, such as many veterans of Iraq/Afghanistan, would be the primary candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who lack remaining pituitary somatotroph function (for example due to surgical removal or complete pituitary destruction) or whose low GH is caused by unrelated systemic conditions are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
This work focuses on people with long-term traumatic brain injury who have low growth hormone from pituitary dysfunction. Researchers plan to stimulate surviving pituitary somatotroph cells by activating a specific calcium channel (TRPC3) so those cells release more growth hormone. Laboratory and preclinical experiments will look at how increased calcium entry helps hormone release and whether that can support axon repair in injured brain tissue. If successful, the approach could point to new therapies that restore natural hormone signaling rather than only giving hormone replacement.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could restore a person’s own growth hormone production and help improve recovery and quality of life after chronic TBI.
How similar studies have gone: Early laboratory studies have shown TRPC3 helps calcium entry and hormone release, but this mechanism-based approach remains largely preclinical and has not yet been proven in patients.
Where this research is happening
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U.s. Dept/vets Affairs Medical Center
Washington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bandyopadhyay, Bidhan Chandra — U.s. Dept/vets Affairs Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Bandyopadhyay, Bidhan Chandra
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.