How brain activity helps clear waste from the brain
Project 1: Modeling brain-state-dependent fluid flow and clearance in mice and humans
Looks at whether brain activity controls fluid flow that helps clear waste from the brains of mice and people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11161468 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my perspective, this work uses computer models and measurements from mice and people to understand how fluid moves around blood vessels in the brain. The team builds detailed simulations of tiny brain regions and then links those to a whole-brain flow network to see how activity, sleep chemicals, and vessel motion influence clearance. They combine lab measurements, neurotransmitter links (like norepinephrine and acetylcholine), and imaging or physiological data to make testable, quantitative models. The goal is to create predictions that can guide future experiments and, eventually, patient-focused studies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be adults willing to take part in brain imaging or physiological studies or to share relevant medical data for research at the University of Rochester or partner sites.
Not a fit: People seeking an immediate treatment or those with health issues unrelated to brain fluid clearance are unlikely to get direct benefit from participating in this modeling-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to ways to boost brain waste clearance and potentially reduce risk or slow progression of conditions like Alzheimer's disease.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal and human studies link sleep and neural activity to glymphatic clearance, but integrating microscale simulations with whole-brain models across mice and humans is a novel, more comprehensive approach.
Where this research is happening
Rochester, United States
- University of Rochester — Rochester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kelley, Douglas H — University of Rochester
- Study coordinator: Kelley, Douglas H
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.