How age and sex change tiny blood vessels after a spinal cord injury
Official title: Differential microvascular response to trauma in the spinal cord with sex and age
Funded at University of Louisville · NIH-11446856 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at how aging and biological sex change blood flow in the injured cervical spinal cord to help people with spinal cord injuries, especially older adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Louisville NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Louisville, United States) |
| Project start | January 15, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $485,840 |
| NIH project number | 7R01NS140285-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11446856 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
The eventual human candidates most relevant to this work would be people with recent cervical spinal cord injuries, particularly older adults (65+) who suffer trauma such as ground-level falls.
✕Less likely to help
People with long-standing chronic spinal cord injuries, non-cervical injuries, or unrelated neurological conditions are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this specific preclinical project.
What this research studies
From a patient viewpoint: researchers will use a rodent model to map and measure tiny blood vessels and blood flow after a cervical spinal cord injury. They will use high-resolution 3-D imaging and blood-flow measurements to compare younger vs older animals and males vs females. The team aims to identify microvascular changes that make the aged spinal cord more vulnerable to secondary damage. Findings are intended to guide future treatments that preserve tissue and improve recovery, though patients will not be enrolled in this lab-based work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to ways to protect blood flow after cervical spinal cord injury and reduce tissue loss, potentially improving recovery—especially for older adults.
How similar studies have gone: Prior animal studies show restoring blood flow can limit secondary damage after SCI, but detailed comparisons of age- and sex-related microvascular responses are relatively novel and less well studied.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Louisville
Louisville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Khaing, Zin Z — University of Louisville
- Study coordinator: Khaing, Zin Z
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.