How early brain injury harms myelin-making cells and nerve fibers
Mechanisms of Oligodendrocyte and Axonal Abnormalities After Perinatal Brain Injury
This project looks at how brain injury around the time of birth damages the cells that make myelin and the nerve fibers in babies born prematurely.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Seattle Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11192337 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a parent's point of view, researchers are using lab models that mimic low-oxygen injury in newborns to see why the white matter of the brain does not mature normally after premature birth. They examine the behavior of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (the cells that become the myelin-producing cells) and how those cells fail to mature and wrap axons properly. The team studies specific molecular pathways (including HIF1α and Sirt1/Sirt2), changes in glutamate signaling, and how axons and myelin interact after injury. The goal is to point toward ways to protect or restore normal white matter development so children have better motor and cognitive outcomes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children born prematurely with evidence or risk of diffuse white matter injury, and families interested in research on neonatal brain injury, would be the most relevant group for future clinical efforts stemming from this work.
Not a fit: Adults with stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, or white matter problems unrelated to prematurity are unlikely to directly benefit from this specific perinatal-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments or protective strategies to reduce cerebral palsy, learning delays, and other problems linked to poor white matter development in preterm infants.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal studies have shown related molecular changes and suggested ways to protect myelin, but translating these preclinical findings into proven therapies for preterm infants has not yet been achieved.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- Seattle Children's Hospital — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gallo, Vittorio — Seattle Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Gallo, Vittorio
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.