How bacterial meningitis affects blood vessels in the brain
Official title: Impairment of the cerebral vasculature during bacterial meningitis
Funded at University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa · NIH-10795568 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how bacterial meningitis affects the protective barrier around the brain, using special human cell models to see how bacteria can break through and cause problems, with the hope of finding new ways to help people who are dealing with this serious illness.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tuscaloosa, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $447,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R15NS131921-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10795568 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals diagnosed with bacterial meningitis, particularly those experiencing complications.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with viral meningitis or other non-bacterial central nervous system infections may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of bacterial meningitis on the blood-brain barrier, which protects the brain from harmful substances. By using advanced human stem-cell models, the study aims to understand how bacteria like Group B Streptococcus invade brain endothelial cells and disrupt their protective functions. The researchers will explore specific cellular processes that are altered during infection, which may lead to complications such as stroke. This work could provide insights into potential therapeutic targets to improve outcomes for patients affected by this serious condition.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that prevent neurological damage in survivors of bacterial meningitis.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the blood-brain barrier's role in CNS infections, but this specific approach using human stem-cell models is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Correll, Robert Nathan — University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa
- Study coordinator: Correll, Robert Nathan
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Personalized Immunomodulatory Therapy for HIV-related Cryptococcal Meningitis
A patient-focused study investigates a personalized treatment approach to improve outcomes for people with HIV who develop cryptococcal meningitis.
-
Improving Diagnostics and Neurocognitive Outcomes in HIV/AIDS-related Meningitis
A study in Uganda aims to use faster, better tests and a new antifungal to help people with HIV who develop meningitis.
-
TB meningitis diagnostic test compare and cost study in sub-Saharan Africa
Researchers are testing a new CSF urine-based test (SILVAMP TB LAM) to improve diagnosis of TB meningitis in people with HIV, to help speed treatment and reduce death in Sub-Saharan Africa.
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Minimally Invasive Sampling to Improve HIV-Associated M meningitis Diagnosis in Africa
A research study is testing easier, less invasive ways to diagnose meningitis in people living with HIV, with a focus on making diagnosis faster and more accurate in Africa and the US.
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Understanding brain injury in kids with tuberculous meningitis (iThemba)
A study in children with TB meningitis in South Africa will look at how inflammation and blood-clotting factors relate to brain injury and infarcts.
-
Serological clues to survival in HIV-related cryptococcal meningitis
This grant looks for antibody signals in the blood that could predict who survives cryptococcal meningitis in people with HIV.
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.