Improving understanding and outcomes in Tuberculous meningitis
Official title: Translational approaches to improve understanding and outcome in Tuberculous meningitis
Funded at Hackensack University Medical Center · NIH-10808957 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at why some people with tuberculous meningitis, especially those with HIV, have a harder time recovering, and it aims to find better ways to treat this serious condition by exploring how the immune system works and how well medications reach the brain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Hackensack University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hackensack, United States) |
| Project start | March 19, 2020 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $747,157 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI145436-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10808957 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include adults diagnosed with Tuberculous meningitis, especially those with compromised immune systems such as HIV patients.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with Tuberculous meningitis who are not adults or those with other unrelated neurological conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on Tuberculous meningitis (TBM), a severe form of tuberculosis that can lead to high mortality and long-term disabilities, particularly in vulnerable populations like those with HIV. The project aims to understand why some patients experience poor outcomes by investigating the immune responses and drug penetration into the brain. Researchers will develop tools and biomarkers to predict disease progression and treatment responses, utilizing clinical samples and a rabbit model for testing new therapies. By combining various scientific approaches, the study seeks to enhance treatment strategies for TBM.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment protocols and better outcomes for patients suffering from Tuberculous meningitis.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding and treating Tuberculous meningitis, but this specific approach is innovative and aims to address gaps in current treatment strategies.
Where this research is happening
-
Hackensack University Medical Center
Hackensack, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gengenbacher, Martin Alfons — Hackensack University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Gengenbacher, Martin Alfons
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Personalized Immunomodulatory Therapy for HIV-related Cryptococcal Meningitis
A patient-focused study investigates a personalized treatment approach to improve outcomes for people with HIV who develop cryptococcal meningitis.
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Improving Diagnostics and Neurocognitive Outcomes in HIV/AIDS-related Meningitis
A study in Uganda aims to use faster, better tests and a new antifungal to help people with HIV who develop meningitis.
-
TB meningitis diagnostic test compare and cost study in sub-Saharan Africa
Researchers are testing a new CSF urine-based test (SILVAMP TB LAM) to improve diagnosis of TB meningitis in people with HIV, to help speed treatment and reduce death in Sub-Saharan Africa.
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Minimally Invasive Sampling to Improve HIV-Associated M meningitis Diagnosis in Africa
A research study is testing easier, less invasive ways to diagnose meningitis in people living with HIV, with a focus on making diagnosis faster and more accurate in Africa and the US.
-
Understanding brain injury in kids with tuberculous meningitis (iThemba)
A study in children with TB meningitis in South Africa will look at how inflammation and blood-clotting factors relate to brain injury and infarcts.
-
Serological clues to survival in HIV-related cryptococcal meningitis
This grant looks for antibody signals in the blood that could predict who survives cryptococcal meningitis in people with HIV.
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.