Improving blood flow after stroke by breaking down NETs
Official title: Improving VCID outcomes incident to ischemic stroke through mitigation of neutrophil extracellular traps
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-11606640 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to see if breaking down neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) after an ischemic stroke can improve blood flow and reduce brain injury in patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $574,660 |
| NIH project number | 1R56NS139353-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11606640 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who have recently experienced an ischemic stroke and are eligible for NET-targeted therapy within the trial framework.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions or treatments that contraindicate rhDNase or who do not have NET-mediated microvascular issues may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on people who have had an ischemic stroke and are at risk for vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia. It builds on lab findings that NETs clog small vessels and worsen brain perfusion, and tests whether an approved drug (rhDNase) can reduce these clogs to improve microvascular flow after stroke. The study will translate animal and early human data into a potential therapy that could be used alongside standard stroke treatments. If successful, it may help preserve cognitive function and daily living abilities by improving blood flow in the brain.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience better brain perfusion after stroke and potentially slower cognitive decline.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical data suggest NETs contribute to microvascular obstruction and rhDNase improves cerebral blood flow in models; human data are being explored in this grant.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Waters, Michael Farris — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Waters, Michael Farris
Related research
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Modeling Acute Ischemic Stroke to Improve Mechanical Thrombectomy
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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.