Circadian clocks and NG2-glia regenerative potential in brain injury
Official title: Endogenous circadian clocks regulate NG2-glia regenerative potential
Funded at Children's Research Institute · NIH-11393027 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A scientist is studying how the body's 24-hour clock affects brain repair cells (NG2-glia) after traumatic brain injury in young people and adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project start | September 26, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $182,403 |
| NIH project number | 5K08NS131529-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11393027 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children and adults who have suffered traumatic brain injury or are at risk of such injury, particularly those within the age range studied.
✕Less likely to help
If the clock pathways are not involved in NG2-glia regeneration, the specific clock-targeted strategies may not help.
What this research studies
This project looks at whether the brain’s natural daily rhythms control how NG2-glia divide and mature, which could influence recovery after brain injury. It will compare cortical and white matter NG2-glia in healthy brains and after traumatic injury to see how the clock impacts their regenerative abilities. The study will map clock-driven molecular programs that govern NG2-glia function and test how disrupting the clock changes repair outcomes. Findings could point to timing-based strategies or targets to improve brain repair after injury.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding these clock-related mechanisms could lead to new approaches to enhance brain repair after injury.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown clock genes influence brain cell behavior, but applying this to NG2-glia regeneration after injury is an emerging area.
Where this research is happening
-
Children's Research Institute
Washington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dean, Terry — Children's Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Dean, Terry
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.