How female sex influences the resilience of blood vessel cells to oxidative stress after a stroke
Official title: Female sex protects vascular smooth muscle cells from mitochondrial depolarization to oxidative stress
Funded at University of Missouri-Columbia · NIH-11003279 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at why female cells in blood vessels seem to handle stress from a stroke better than male cells, with the hope of finding new ways to help everyone recover better after a stroke.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Missouri-Columbia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbia, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $346,023 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS134690-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11003279 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have experienced an ischemic stroke, particularly those interested in understanding sex-based differences in recovery.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not experienced a stroke or those with conditions unrelated to vascular health may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how female vascular smooth muscle cells are better protected from damage caused by oxidative stress following a stroke compared to male cells. It focuses on understanding the mechanisms behind this protection, particularly in relation to mitochondrial function and calcium signaling. By exploring these sex-based differences, the study aims to identify potential therapeutic targets that could improve recovery after ischemic strokes. Patients may benefit from insights that could lead to more effective treatments tailored to their biological sex.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved therapies for stroke recovery that leverage the protective mechanisms found in female vascular cells.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that sex differences can influence cellular responses to stress, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Norton, Charles E — University of Missouri-Columbia
- Study coordinator: Norton, Charles E
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Why female blood vessel muscle cells resist damage from oxidative stress
Researchers are looking at whether female blood vessel muscle cells keep their mitochondria healthier during the burst of oxidative stress that happens when blood flow returns after an ischemic stroke, with the hope of improving blood flow recovery for stroke patients.
-
An integrated mobile health program to reduce SAVA and mental health problems among female sex workers in Kenya
A new mobile health program aims to help female sex workers in Kenya avoid substance abuse, violence, HIV, and depression by delivering group therapy, online resources, and a peer discussion space.
-
HIV in Women: How the virus hides and the immune system changes across life stages
This project looks at how HIV behaves differently in people from puberty through menopause, focusing on how hormones like estrogen may affect HIV persistence and immune responses.
-
Mobile health support to boost PrEP and contraception use among young women in Zambia
A mobile health program helps female university students in Zambia learn about and access HIV prevention and contraception.
-
Computational modeling of female hormone balance and drug responses
A new computational model uses patient-like data to predict how metabolic drugs will work in women across their hormonal cycles and different reproductive stages.
-
How PrEP Drugs Affect HIV Risk in Women and Reproductive Health
This project looks at how PrEP medicines work for women, and whether they influence pregnancy-related processes in the uterus.
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.