How early childhood head injuries affect the developing brain differently in boys and girls
Sex differences in neuroimmune function and developmental vulnerability to early life traumatic brain injury
This project looks at how head injuries in early childhood change immune cells in the developing brain and how those changes differ between boys and girls.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11014329 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If your child had a head injury early in life, this research uses laboratory models to study brain immune cells called microglia and mast cells that help shape brain development. Researchers will compare male and female brains at different developmental stages after injury to see how immune responses, inflammation, and connections between brain cells change. Much of the work uses young animal models to map cellular and molecular changes that may underlie later ADHD, mood, or substance-use problems. The goal is to find biological patterns that explain why early injuries can cause long-term behavioral and cognitive effects.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children who experienced a traumatic brain injury early in life (and their families) would be the most relevant group for related clinical follow-up or future patient-facing studies.
Not a fit: People without a history of early-life head injury or whose injuries occurred only in adulthood are less likely to benefit from findings specific to pediatric TBI mechanisms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to biological targets for treatments or prevention strategies to reduce long-term behavioral and cognitive problems after childhood head injury.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal studies show neuroinflammation and sex-based differences after pediatric TBI, but the specific contribution of mast cells to long-term outcomes is largely untested and is a novel focus here.
Where this research is happening
Columbus, UNITED STATES
- Ohio State University — Columbus, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lenz, Kathryn M. — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Lenz, Kathryn M.
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.