How blood after head injury harms the brain's protective barrier
Assessing the effects of peripheral immune activation on the NVU following TBI using a vascularized and perfused human blood/BBB model
This project uses a 3D human blood–brain barrier model to show how blood and immune cells from people with traumatic brain injury can damage the brain's tiny blood vessels.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11160609 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are building a tiny, living version of the human blood–brain barrier from stem cells that become vessel cells, support pericytes, and astrocytes. They will pump fluid through this 3D model and add plasma and immune cells taken from people who had a traumatic brain injury to observe effects on the barrier. The team will measure leakage, cell responses, and molecular signals to identify which blood components cause harm. Findings are meant to point toward biological targets that could be protected or blocked after head injury.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people who recently experienced a traumatic brain injury and are willing to donate blood or plasma for research.
Not a fit: People seeking an immediate treatment for their injury or those without a brain injury are unlikely to receive direct clinical benefit from this lab-based research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal blood factors and immune responses to target with therapies that protect the brain after traumatic head injury.
How similar studies have performed: Scientists have built iPSC-based blood–brain barrier and brain-on-a-chip models before, but combining a perfused 3D human NVU with TBI patient plasma and immune cells is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Agalliu, Dritan — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Agalliu, Dritan
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 below.