How age changes immune cell responses after a head injury
Official title: Divergent age-dependent peripheral innate immune response following TBI
Funded at Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ · NIH-11377873 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are comparing how immune cells from younger versus older bodies react after a traumatic brain injury to learn why age alters recovery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Blacksburg, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $81,021 |
| NIH project number | 3R01NS119540-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11377873 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People of any age who have experienced a recent traumatic brain injury and are interested in therapies that address age-related immune differences would be most relevant to this work.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-traumatic neurological conditions or those seeking immediate clinical treatments are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this laboratory-based animal research.
What this research studies
This project uses mouse models of traumatic brain injury to study blood-derived immune cells (monocytes/macrophages) from young and adult donors and how they affect the injured brain. Scientists will remove or replace these cells, use genetically modified mice to test specific receptor pathways (including Tie2 and EphA4), and track recovery with behavior tests and tissue examinations. They will also run genome-wide molecular analyses to find cell-specific signals that explain age-related differences. The work aims to identify targets that could one day be used to reduce harmful inflammation after head injury.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could point to new ways to limit damaging inflammation after traumatic brain injury and improve recovery, possibly with age-tailored therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Prior animal studies indicate younger-derived immune cells can be less inflammatory and replacing adult cells with juvenile ones can protect the injured brain, but translating this idea into human treatments is still untested.
Where this research is happening
-
Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ
Blacksburg, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Theus, Michelle Lee — Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ
- Study coordinator: Theus, Michelle Lee
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Histotripsy + immune boost to fight osteosarcoma
A new treatment idea combines a precise non-surgical ultrasound method with an immune-boosting compound to help fight bone cancer in people and dogs.
-
Understanding how front-thalamus connections affect thinking and behavior in schizophrenia
Researchers are studying how the prefrontal cortex and mediodorsal thalamus work together to support thinking, memory, and behavior in schizophrenia, with the goal of finding new ways to help people who have cognitive difficulties.
-
Data-driven hormonal modeling of vaginal tissue changes across a woman’s life
A data-driven, physics-informed computer model will map how hormones drive vaginal tissue remodeling across puberty, reproductive life, and menopause to help predict risks and tailor therapies.
-
Supporting flood recovery in rural areas through health data and knowledge sharing
Aimed at people in rural Appalachian regions affected by inland flooding, this project will use health data and rapid information sharing to inform recovery and future planning.
-
Adaptation of PATH-Pain for Dementia Family Caregivers Living with Persistent Pain and Negative Emotions
Aimed at helping dementia family caregivers who live with ongoing pain and negative feelings by adapting a pain-management program to fit their caregiving needs.
-
Genomic surveillance for antimicrobial resistance in aquaculture pathogens
This project aims to build a DNA-based tracking system to spot antibiotic resistance in bacteria that affect fish farms, helping protect animal health and food safety.
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.