Hydrogen water plus minocycline to protect the brain after ischemic stroke

MRI Study of Hydrogen Water and Minocycline Combination Therapy for Ischemic Stroke

NIH-funded research Albert Einstein College of Medicine · NIH-11248809

Looks at whether drinking hydrogen-rich water, alone or with the antibiotic minocycline, can protect the brain and improve recovery after an ischemic stroke.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionAlbert Einstein College of Medicine NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Bronx, United States)
Project IDNIH-11248809 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Researchers will create advanced MRI methods to better tell which brain tissue is still alive, how blood vessels are working, and how brain function changes over time after a stroke. They will apply these MRI techniques in an established rat model of ischemic stroke to compare hydrogen water, minocycline, and the two combined. Outcomes include MRI-measured lesion size, gray- and white-matter damage, vascular reactivity, and behavioral recovery in the animals. This is preclinical work in rats and does not currently enroll human patients.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for future human trials would be adults who recently experienced an ischemic (blood-clot) stroke and are medically stable in the early recovery period.

Not a fit: People with hemorrhagic (bleeding) stroke, long-standing chronic stroke damage, or unstable medical conditions are unlikely to benefit from these specific treatments.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to an affordable treatment approach that reduces brain damage and improves recovery after stroke and guide future human trials.

How similar studies have performed: Animal studies have shown that hydrogen water or minocycline alone can protect the brain after stroke, and prior rat work by these investigators found the combination reduced lesion size and disability, but human evidence is not yet available.

Where this research is happening

Bronx, 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.
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.