How mild head injury changes brain cells that control rhythms
Official title: Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Alters Interneuron Structure and Function
Funded at Virginia Commonwealth University · NIH-11322120 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are looking at how mild head injuries change specific brain cells that control brain rhythms and touch sensitivity, with the goal of helping people after concussion.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2011 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $495,360 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS077675-13 |
| Project ID | NIH-11322120 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people who have experienced a mild traumatic brain injury or concussion and who are interested in research that may inform future treatments.
✕Less likely to help
People without a history of head injury or whose symptoms come from other causes are unlikely to directly benefit from this mouse-based basic science project.
What this research studies
This project uses a well-established mouse model of mild head injury to examine two types of inhibitory brain cells called parvalbumin (PV) and somatostatin (SOM) interneurons. Scientists will use genetically modified mice and chemogenetic tools to change the PV:SOM balance and record how those changes affect brain rhythms (gamma oscillations) and sensitivity to touch. They will also study whether immune cells (microglia) and the protective perineuronal nets around PV cells are damaged after injury. The goal is to link cell-level damage to altered brain waves and sensory symptoms people often report after mild traumatic brain injury.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal cellular mechanisms behind sensory problems after mild head injury and point to new targets for therapies to help people with concussion-related symptoms.
How similar studies have gone: Related animal studies have linked PV:SOM imbalances to altered gamma rhythms in other brain disorders, but applying these findings specifically to mild TBI and sensory sensitivity is a newer direction.
Where this research is happening
-
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jacobs, Kimberle Mae — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Jacobs, Kimberle Mae
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A High-Tech Look Inside the Brain with Diffusion MRI
Researchers are using advanced brain imaging to find biological clues in people who have mild traumatic brain injuries.
-
How neuromodulation may help headaches after a mild brain injury
A small study tests whether stimulating the brain with a noninvasive technique can lessen persistent headaches in people who recently had a concussion.
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New ways to treat chronic pain after mild brain injuries
A research team is studying why some people develop long-lasting pain after a mild head injury and how brain inflammation contributes to it.
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Retraining brain pathways to boost thinking after a mild head injury
A clinical trial tests a brain-training program to improve thinking and memory in people who have had a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).
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Neurobehavioral effects of childhood brain injuries and addiction risk in twins
This grant studies how mild traumatic brain injury in childhood might influence behavior and the chance of developing addictive behaviors later in life, using twins to understand what’s due to injury versus other factors.
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Understanding and improving reactive balance after mild traumatic brain injury
This grant tests how people recover their balance after a mild brain injury and how targeted training could help prevent falls.
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.