Identifying biomarkers to predict brain damage after traumatic injuries
Official title: BCCMA: Predicting TBI Pathology with Visual and Blood-based Biomarkers
Funded at Veterans Affairs Med Ctr San Francisco · NIH-10951516 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for signs in the eyes and blood that can help predict long-term brain problems after a head injury, and it's especially for veterans who have experienced traumatic brain injuries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Affairs Med Ctr San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2023 |
| Project end | September 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX005871-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10951516 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals who have experienced traumatic brain injuries, particularly veterans.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not suffered a traumatic brain injury or those with pre-existing neurological conditions unrelated to TBI may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to find reliable biomarkers that can predict long-term brain dysfunction following traumatic brain injury (TBI). The study will explore how changes in the retina and specific blood markers can indicate neurodegeneration in the brain after an injury. It will involve multiple phases, starting with the discovery of these biomarkers through various assessments, including brain imaging and cognitive tests. The research will also validate these biomarkers using samples from both animal models and human participants, particularly veterans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better diagnostic tools for predicting and managing chronic brain damage in TBI patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using biomarkers for brain injury assessment, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Veterans Affairs Med Ctr San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ferguson, Adam R — Veterans Affairs Med Ctr San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Ferguson, Adam R
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Predicting TBI-Related Brain and Eye Pathology with Blood and Retina Biomarkers
A multi-site study aims to find biomarkers in blood and the retina that forecast long-term brain damage after traumatic brain injury, using both animal models and human samples.
-
Gut microbes and methotrexate: boosting RA treatment through microbiome targets
Researchers are studying how gut bacteria affect how well methotrexate works for people with rheumatoid arthritis, aiming to make MTX effective for more patients.
-
Precision medicine for elderly veterans with chronic inflammatory skin disease
Aimed at understanding and tailoring treatments for older adults with eczema-like skin inflammation (atopic dermatitis) among veterans.
-
PTSD and Autoimmune Diseases: How PTSD Might Cause or Change Risk and What Might Help
This project looks at whether PTSD in Veterans affects the risk of autoimmune diseases and whether there are factors that influence that risk.
-
Chromatin clues to how neural stem cells grow into specific brain cells
A study exploring how a chromatin regulator shapes neural stem cells to make the right brain cells, with potential relevance to neurological conditions affecting adults.
-
Vaccine failure after Covid-19 vaccination in older adults
This project follows vaccinated older adults to understand who among them still gets Covid-19 and what factors make those outcomes worse.
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.