How the immune system calms inflammation after cardiac arrest

Resolution of inflammation after cardiac arrest

NIH-funded research Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-11251192

Researchers are exploring how immune cells and signals calm inflammation after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest to protect the brain and improve recovery.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionBrigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boston, United States)
Project IDNIH-11251192 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

If you or a loved one survives an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, this project uses blood samples collected soon after resuscitation to study immune cells. Scientists apply single-cell techniques to a biobank of preserved blood immune cells (PBMCs) from patients to map which cell types and signals are linked to good or bad neurological outcomes. They follow up key findings with lab tests on patient cells and experiments in animal models to test pathways such as Nectin-2 and IFNγ that control monocyte–NK cell interactions. The aim is to discover immune mechanisms that could be targeted to reduce brain injury and improve survival after cardiac arrest.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal participants are adults treated for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest at participating hospitals who can have blood samples collected shortly after resuscitation.

Not a fit: People without recent cardiac arrest or those too medically unstable to provide consent or blood samples are unlikely to take part or directly benefit.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: Could identify immune targets that lead to treatments reducing brain injury and improving survival after cardiac arrest.

How similar studies have performed: Preliminary human blood analyses and mouse experiments suggest targeting IFNγ and related immune pathways can reduce neurological injury, but applying single-cell human biobank data to guide therapies is relatively new.

Where this research is happening

Boston, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Acquired brain injury
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.