Cell-level changes in mitochondria after brain injury that may drive neurodegeneration
Official title: The cell-specific neurodegenerative potential of mitochondria post-traumatic brain injury
Funded at University of Cincinnati · NIH-11380805 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new NIH grant looks at how mitochondrial problems after brain injury could set off long-term brain degeneration similar to Alzheimer’s disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Cincinnati NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $239,095 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AG085052-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11380805 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who have experienced traumatic brain injury or are at risk for neurodegenerative progression after TBI.
✕Less likely to help
The study is focused on basic mechanisms and may not offer direct benefits to every participant.
What this research studies
If this project succeeds, it could reveal how injury-related changes in cell powerhouses (mitochondria) contribute to ongoing brain inflammation and neuron loss after a traumatic brain injury. The researchers plan to study mitochondrial energy and metabolic dysfunction in specific brain cells and how that may lead to Alzheimer-like pathology over time. This could point to new biomarkers and targets for preventing long-term disability after TBI. The work combines analysis of human data with early laboratory experiments to connect acute injury to later neurodegenerative processes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding these mechanisms could lead to new ways to prevent or slow Alzheimer-like degeneration after brain injury.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research has linked brain injury to later neurodegenerative changes, but this project aims to clarify cell-specific mitochondrial roles and pathways.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liaudanskaya, Volha — University of Cincinnati
- Study coordinator: Liaudanskaya, Volha
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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.