How the stress hormone cortisol reacts after a concussion in teens
Response Evaluation of Acute Cortisol in mTBI (REACT)
This project looks at how concussion changes cortisol (a stress hormone) and related brain responses in adolescents.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11296971 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join a research program that monitors hormone and brain changes after a concussion during adolescence. Researchers will collect saliva or blood samples to measure cortisol and other pubertal hormones, perform brain imaging, and have you complete mood and symptom questionnaires over time. The team will compare teens with recent concussions to teens without injury to see how the stress axis and pituitary function differ. The goal is to understand why some teens develop anxiety or emotional problems after concussion while others recover.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adolescents in puberty who recently had a concussion and are willing to provide hormone samples, attend brain scans, and complete follow-up visits.
Not a fit: Adults, people with severe traumatic brain injury, or those with unrelated hormonal disorders may not be eligible or likely to benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help identify hormonal signs that predict which teens are at risk for long-lasting mood or emotional problems after concussion.
How similar studies have performed: Early iCARE2 findings and some clinical reports point to pituitary and hormone changes after concussion, but the specific role of cortisol in post-concussion symptoms remains unclear.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Versace, Amelia — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Versace, Amelia
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.