Investigating brain injury in newborns caused by lack of oxygen
Official title: Neonatal cerebral vascular injury by prolonged asphyxia
Funded at University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr · NIH-10953982 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a lack of oxygen affects the blood vessels in newborns' brains and aims to find new ways to help protect their brains from injury, using newborn pigs to learn more about how to improve their recovery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Memphis, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $498,595 |
| NIH project number | 1R01NS134659-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10953982 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are newborns who have experienced moderate-to-severe asphyxia or hypoxia shortly after birth.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are older than four weeks or those who have not experienced asphyxia may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how prolonged asphyxia affects the brain's blood vessels in newborns. It aims to identify new therapeutic strategies to protect the brain from injury caused by oxygen deprivation. The study will explore the role of specific cells and molecules in the brain that are damaged during asphyxia and how these can be targeted to improve outcomes. Using newborn pigs as a model, researchers will investigate ways to enhance the brain's defenses against oxidative stress and inflammation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that significantly improve neurological outcomes for infants affected by asphyxia.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of targeting neurovascular dysfunction in neonatal asphyxia is innovative, preliminary data suggest that similar strategies have shown promise in related studies.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr
Memphis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Parfenova, Helena — University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr
- Study coordinator: Parfenova, Helena
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.