Inflammation-related injury to a key brain zone in preterm babies
Pathogenic Mechanisms of Inflammatory Subventricular Zone Injury in Preterm Infants
This project looks at how inflammation after intestinal perforation in preterm infants can damage a brain stem-cell zone and contribute to later developmental problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11302674 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers use a mouse model of neonatal intestinal perforation to study how inflammation damages the multiciliated ependymal layer that lines the subventricular zone (SVZ), a brain region important for newborn brain development. They link those animal findings to human data by reviewing cranial ultrasound images from preterm infants who had intestinal perforation to identify SVZ echogenicity (SVE) soon after the event. The team will analyze whether early SVE is associated with neurodevelopmental impairment measured at two years and will examine the underlying inflammatory mechanisms in tissue and imaging. The work combines animal experiments, neonatal imaging, and outcome testing to find early signs of injury that could become targets for prevention.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Preterm infants who experience intestinal perforation or related severe inflammatory complications and are cared for in participating neonatal intensive care units would be the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Full-term infants, preterm infants without inflammatory intestinal complications, or those whose brain injury arises from unrelated causes would be unlikely to be directly helped by this specific project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help clinicians detect early brain injury after intestinal perforation and guide interventions to reduce long-term developmental disability.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal studies and neonatal imaging work support inflammation-driven brain injury, but using early SVZ echogenicity after intestinal perforation as a predictor of later developmental outcome is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Benner, Eric J — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Benner, Eric J
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.