Feasibility of using PET to track brain inflammation after traumatic brain injury
Official title: Feasibility of Using PET Imaging for Detection of Treatment-Induced Changes in Chronic Neuroinflammation Following TBI
Funded at Veterans Health Administration · NIH-11412201 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant test uses PET imaging in rats to see if chronic brain inflammation after TBI can be tracked, and it also explores whether methylphenidate could boost brain signaling pathways.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Health Administration NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I21RX004644-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11412201 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with acquired brain injury who may later benefit from improved imaging and pharmacologic strategies in translational research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without TBI or those not connected to neuroinflammation research are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers plan to build a preclinical imaging platform using PET to observe inflammation that persists after TBI in a rat model. They will examine whether methylphenidate can increase central noradrenergic and dopaminergic innervation, potentially affecting inflammation and recovery. The work aims to connect imaging findings with known cognitive and anxiety-related changes after brain injury, providing a basis for future translational studies. The project uses an established rat model of TBI to mimic injuries seen in falls, vehicle accidents, and sports, focusing on brainstem regions critical for immune regulation. Overall, this line of work could inform how we monitor and treat chronic neuroinflammation in TBI patients later on.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could lead to better imaging-based monitoring of brain inflammation after TBI and inform future therapies to improve recovery.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests there is meaningful signals in PET imaging of neuroinflammation, with ongoing research bridging animal models to human studies.
Where this research is happening
-
Veterans Health Administration
Gainesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bose, Prodip K. — Veterans Health Administration
- Study coordinator: Bose, Prodip K.
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.