Brain-derived exosomes to detect and track newborn oxygen-related brain injury
Central Nervous System Derived Exosomes: A Novel Source of Biomarkers for Neonatal Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy
This project looks for tiny brain-derived particles in newborns who had low oxygen at birth to help predict how they'll recover and whether cooling will help.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11311942 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a parent's perspective, doctors will collect small blood samples from newborns at several time points during the first hours and days after suspected oxygen-related brain injury, including while babies receive therapeutic cooling. The team will isolate CNS-derived exosomes—tiny vesicles that cross the blood-brain barrier and carry markers from neurons and astrocytes—and analyze proteins and other signals they contain. Researchers will compare exosome marker patterns between infants who do well and those who later have disability to find signatures that predict treatment response and outcome. The goal is a non-invasive blood-based way to track brain injury timing and severity and guide early treatment decisions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Newborns with suspected hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (perinatal oxygen deprivation), particularly those identified within hours of birth and considered for therapeutic hypothermia, are the intended candidates.
Not a fit: Infants without perinatal oxygen injury, those presenting after the early clinical treatment window, or families who decline sampling are unlikely to benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could provide a blood test to identify infants unlikely to respond to cooling and help guide earlier or different neuroprotective treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Prior biomarker studies in HIE have not yet produced a widely used clinical test, and using CNS-derived exosomes is a newer approach with promising early results but not yet proven in clinical practice.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Goetzl, Laura — University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
- Study coordinator: Goetzl, Laura
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.