How tiny blood vessel problems affect stroke recovery using advanced brain imaging
Neurophotonic Advances for Mechanistic Investigation of the Role of Capillary Dysfunction in Stroke Recovery
This project uses new high-resolution brain imaging to learn whether capillary problems slow or change recovery for people who have had a stroke.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University (Charles River Campus) NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11168988 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would hear how researchers combine very high-resolution optical imaging with standard brain scans to link tiny blood vessel behavior to recovery after stroke. They plan to use neurophotonic tools (like two-photon microscopy) alongside noninvasive scans such as fMRI and fNIRS to measure blood flow and vessel responses. The team will relate these vascular signals to brain activity and behavior over time to see how capillary dysfunction affects neurovascular signaling in injured brain areas. The goal is to bridge small-scale vessel changes with the scans clinicians use to track recovery.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults recovering from ischemic stroke, especially those in the weeks to months after their event who can attend imaging visits and follow-up, are the most likely candidates.
Not a fit: People with hemorrhagic stroke, those who cannot tolerate MRI or optical imaging, or those who are medically unstable are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help doctors interpret recovery scans better and point to treatments that protect or restore capillary function to improve post-stroke recovery.
How similar studies have performed: Prior human and animal imaging studies link blood flow to brain function, but applying high-resolution neurophotonic methods to capillary dysfunction in stroke recovery is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston University (Charles River Campus) — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Boas, David a — Boston University (Charles River Campus)
- Study coordinator: Boas, David a
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.