Injectable biomaterials to help the brain heal after stroke
Official title: BRAIN (Biomimetic Regenerative Angiogenic Immunomodulating Nanocomposite) materials for brain repair after stroke
Funded at University of Nevada Las Vegas · NIH-11370045 · Data updated 2026-11-12
An injectable brain-like material designed to grow new blood vessels and reduce inflammation to help adults recover after a stroke.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Nevada Las Vegas NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Las Vegas, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2022 |
| Project end | December 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $460,877 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS121150-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11370045 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with acquired brain injury from stroke who are medically stable and meet the trial's timing, lesion-size, and safety criteria would be the likely candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People with very large or diffuse brain damage, unstable medical conditions, or who are not eligible for an invasive injection procedure may not receive benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
This project is developing an injectable, brain-like nanocomposite hydrogel that could be placed into the area damaged by stroke to help guide repair. The material is built to copy the brain's natural scaffold while encouraging new blood vessel growth and calming inflammation. Researchers will test how the gel supports tissue, steers immune cells, and helps regrowth in lab and animal studies before any human use. The aim is a single injectable material that provides physical support, biological signals, and immune control to improve recovery after stroke.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could help restore damaged brain tissue and improve functional recovery after stroke by promoting blood vessel regrowth and reducing harmful inflammation.
How similar studies have gone: Related preclinical work using angiogenic or anti-inflammatory hydrogels has shown partial tissue repair but has not yet produced full functional recovery in humans.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Nevada Las Vegas
Las Vegas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: NIH, Lina R. — University of Nevada Las Vegas
- Study coordinator: NIH, Lina R.
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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.