Does prior cytomegalovirus infection change concussion recovery in athletes?
The role of cytomegalovirus in the physiological and clinical effects of concussion
['FUNDING_R01'] · MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN · NIH-11237171
This project looks at whether having had cytomegalovirus makes a difference in how athletes recover after a sport-related concussion.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (MILWAUKEE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11237171 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you are an athlete in the CARE consortium who had a sport-related concussion, researchers will compare your blood tests, MRI scans, and symptom records from before and after injury to see if CMV exposure relates to recovery. They will use stored blood samples to determine CMV serostatus and link that to brain imaging, biomarkers, and clinical symptoms collected at multiple time points. The team will compare athletes with concussion to contact and non-contact control athletes to see if outcomes differ by CMV status. Results come from an existing, well-characterized group of athletes followed from baseline through return to play.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are athletes who experience a sport-related concussion and who can be followed with blood draws and MRI at participating CARE sites.
Not a fit: People without a concussion or those not enrolled at participating CARE consortium sites are unlikely to directly benefit from participating in this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help predict who is at higher risk for prolonged symptoms and guide more personalized follow-up or immune-targeted care after concussion.
How similar studies have performed: This idea builds on links between CMV and inflammatory conditions, but applying CMV serostatus to concussion outcomes is a relatively new approach with limited prior studies.
Where this research is happening
MILWAUKEE, UNITED STATES
- MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN — MILWAUKEE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: MEIER, TIMOTHY B. — MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN
- Study coordinator: MEIER, TIMOTHY B.
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.
Conditions: Acquired brain injury, Alzheimer disease dementia