How the immune system affects brain damage after a stroke
Official title: Innate immunity and ischemic stroke
Funded at Veterans Health Administration · NIH-10924116 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the immune system affects brain damage and healing after a stroke, and it aims to find new treatments that can help reduce inflammation and improve recovery for stroke patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Health Administration NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2024 |
| Project end | September 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 1I01BX006454-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10924116 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who have experienced an ischemic stroke.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not suffered a stroke or those with other unrelated neurological conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of the immune system in brain damage and recovery following an ischemic stroke. It focuses on understanding how certain molecules, specifically adenosine deaminase acting on RNA (ADAR1), influence inflammation and gene expression in the brain. By studying animal models, the research aims to identify new anti-inflammatory therapies that could improve outcomes for stroke patients. The goal is to develop treatments that effectively modulate the immune response to reduce brain injury and enhance recovery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies that significantly improve recovery and outcomes for stroke patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in targeting immune responses in stroke, but this specific approach focusing on ADAR1 and transposable elements is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Veterans Health Administration
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cao, Guodong — Veterans Health Administration
- Study coordinator: Cao, Guodong
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Improving blood flow after stroke by breaking down NETs
Aims to see if breaking down neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) after an ischemic stroke can improve blood flow and reduce brain injury in patients.
-
EP2 blockers to protect the brain after a stroke
Aims to test brain-permeable EP2 antagonists to reduce damage after ischemic stroke and improve recovery.
-
Genetic testing to find causes of early-onset ischemic stroke
This project uses whole-exome sequencing to look for gene changes that may cause ischemic stroke in adults who had a stroke at a young age.
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Targeted nanomedicine to protect the brain after stroke
A targeted drug-delivery approach aims to boost blood-brain barrier repair and reduce brain damage after an acute ischemic stroke in patients at risk.
-
How biological aging and blood proteins relate to thinking after a stroke
This project looks at whether measures of biological aging and patterns of blood proteins help explain which stroke survivors keep their thinking sharp and which go on to develop vascular dementia.
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Repurposing NEXLETOL to treat ischemic stroke
Aims to see if the cholesterol drug NEXLETOL can help people after an ischemic stroke by supporting brain energy use and reducing injury.
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.