How damaged mitochondria after brain injury may drive nerve cell loss
The cell-specific neurodegenerative potential of mitochondria post-traumatic brain injury
This project looks at whether mitochondria harmed by traumatic brain injury trigger inflammation and Alzheimer-like changes in brain cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Cincinnati NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11141171 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my point of view, the researchers will combine analysis of existing human data with lab experiments to track how mitochondria in different brain cell types change after a traumatic brain injury. They will examine bioenergetic and metabolic shifts, signs of neuroinflammation, and how those changes spread to cause neuron damage and Alzheimer-like pathology. The work uses cell-specific and organelle-focused techniques, likely including animal models and human samples, to follow these processes over time. The goal is to find early markers and points where treatments might stop long-term decline.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have had a recent or past traumatic brain injury and are worried about long-term brain changes would be most relevant to this research.
Not a fit: Healthy people without a history of brain injury or those with advanced, established Alzheimer's disease are unlikely to directly benefit from this early-stage lab-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal early biomarkers and new targets for treatments to prevent dementia after traumatic brain injury.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked traumatic brain injury to later Alzheimer's and reported mitochondrial changes, but the specific cell-by-cell mitochondrial 'neurodegenerative factory' concept is relatively new and mostly untested.
Where this research is happening
Cincinnati, United States
- University of Cincinnati — Cincinnati, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liaudanskaya, Volha — University of Cincinnati
- Study coordinator: Liaudanskaya, Volha
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.