Brain changes linked to repeated head impacts
Digital Neurodegenerative Pathology After Repetitive Head Impacts
Using digital pathology and computer algorithms, researchers will map diverse brain changes tied to repeated head impacts in people who played contact sports or served in the military.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University Medical Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11332531 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses advanced digital pathology and computational algorithms to examine thousands of brain tissue slides from multiple brain banks to find patterns of tau, beta‑amyloid, pTDP‑43, alpha‑synuclein, vascular injury, and other changes after repeated head impacts. The team will harmonize neuropathology and clinical records from collections such as UNITE, the Framingham Heart Study, and the Boston University brain bank to link tissue findings with symptoms and histories. By comparing cases across diverse populations, they aim to explain why some people develop dementia after repetitive impacts while others do not. The work focuses on archived human brain samples and linked clinical data to discover markers that could improve diagnosis and guide future patient-facing tests or trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with a history of repetitive head impacts—for example from contact sports or military service—or family members willing to donate brain tissue and share medical records would be the most relevant participants or donors.
Not a fit: People without a history of repetitive head impacts or those seeking an immediate treatment are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this tissue‑based, diagnostic discovery work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help doctors recognize and distinguish head‑impact–related brain disease earlier and guide development of targeted tests and treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Prior brain‑bank and neuropathology research has identified CTE and mixed pathologies after head injury, but large‑scale digital pathology and harmonized, multi‑bank computational analyses of this scope are relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston University Medical Campus — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mez, Jesse Benjamin — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Mez, Jesse Benjamin
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 below.