Investigating how a brain region may affect Postural Tachycardia Syndrome in adolescents.
Official title: Pediatric POTS: does a periaqueductal gray-vagus nerve interface malfunction explain the natural history with its numerous co-morbidities ?
Funded at Virginia Commonwealth University · NIH-11137740 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a part of the brain might not work properly after a stressful event in young people with Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), which can cause symptoms like dizziness and brain fog, to help us better understand what’s happening and how to help.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $697,837 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL163577-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11137740 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents aged 12-20 who experience symptoms of POTS.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have POTS or are outside the age range of 12-20 may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), a condition that commonly affects adolescents, particularly females, causing symptoms like dizziness, nausea, and brain fog. The study aims to understand how a specific brain region, the periaqueductal gray, may malfunction after a significant threat, leading to the chronic symptoms associated with POTS. By examining the relationship between this brain region and the symptoms of POTS, the researchers hope to uncover new insights into the condition's underlying mechanisms and its associated co-morbidities. The approach includes clinical assessments and brain imaging techniques to gather data on the participants' experiences and physiological responses.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and treatment options for adolescents suffering from POTS.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been observations of associations between POTS and other conditions, this specific approach to understanding the brain's role in POTS is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chelimsky, Gisela — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Chelimsky, Gisela
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.