How alcohol affects brain injuries and healing
Official title: Alcohol Impact on Traumatic Brain Injury: Focus on Mitochondrial Alterations
Funded at Lsu Health Sciences Center · NIH-11071029 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how drinking alcohol might make things worse for people who have had a traumatic brain injury (TBI) by affecting their brain recovery and thinking skills, and it aims to understand the biological changes that happen in the brain when alcohol is involved.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lsu Health Sciences Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Orleans, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $74,284 |
| NIH project number | 1F32AA031902-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11071029 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have experienced a traumatic brain injury and have a history of alcohol consumption.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not experienced a traumatic brain injury or do not consume alcohol may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of alcohol consumption on traumatic brain injury (TBI) and how it may worsen cognitive deficits and recovery outcomes. It focuses on understanding the biological mechanisms, particularly mitochondrial alterations and neuroinflammation, that occur when alcohol is present during or after a TBI. By studying these effects, the research aims to identify how alcohol influences brain metabolism and recovery processes in individuals who have suffered a TBI. The approach includes laboratory experiments that analyze the interactions between alcohol and TBI in cellular models.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment strategies for individuals with traumatic brain injuries who consume alcohol.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that alcohol can exacerbate the effects of traumatic brain injuries, indicating that this area of study is both relevant and necessary.
Where this research is happening
-
Lsu Health Sciences Center
New Orleans, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chapa Dubocq, Xavier Ricardo — Lsu Health Sciences Center
- Study coordinator: Chapa Dubocq, Xavier Ricardo
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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.