Inflammation and serotonin-linked brainstem dysfunction in SIDS
Inflammatory stressors in serotonergic brainstem dysfunction and SIDS
Researchers are looking at whether inflammation damages serotonin circuits in the infant brainstem and raises the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11311798 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
As a parent, this project tries to find biological reasons why some infants are vulnerable to SIDS by studying brainstem serotonin systems and signs of inflammation. The team analyzes human SIDS tissue and cerebrospinal fluid for inflammatory markers and serotonin-related changes. They also use animal models to see how prenatal or postnatal low oxygen and infection affect the brainstem's ability to recover from breathing pauses. Together these approaches aim to link human findings with experimental tests to point to biomarkers or prevention strategies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants include families who can donate tissue and medical records from infants who died of suspected SIDS and clinical cohorts of newborns with documented prenatal or postnatal hypoxia or infection for related studies.
Not a fit: People without SIDS, without available tissue or records, or who are not part of the specified clinical groups are unlikely to directly benefit from this grant.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal biomarkers or targets for interventions that help identify at-risk infants and reduce SIDS deaths.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have found serotonin abnormalities in SIDS tissues and animal models show impaired autoresuscitation, but translating these findings into reliable human biomarkers or proven prevention measures remains largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston Children's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Haynes, Robin Lynn — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Haynes, Robin Lynn
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.