Investigating how brain function related to emotions is affected after cardiac arrest
Official title: Sexually Dimorphic Amygdala Dysfunction in a Mouse Model of Global Cerebral Ischemia
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-10931613 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a lack of blood flow to the brain after a heart attack affects the amygdala, the part of the brain that helps us process emotions, especially fear, and it's aimed at understanding these changes to help improve treatments for people dealing with emotional and memory problems after such events.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 19, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $41,628 |
| NIH project number | 5F99NS135766-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10931613 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have survived cardiac arrest and may be experiencing cognitive or emotional difficulties.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not experienced cardiac arrest or those with unrelated cognitive or emotional disorders may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the impact of global cerebral ischemia (GCI), a condition that can occur after cardiac arrest, on the amygdala, which is crucial for emotional processing. Using a mouse model, the study examines how GCI affects amygdala function, particularly focusing on learning and memory related to fear responses. The researchers employ advanced techniques to assess changes in brain circuits and identify specific impairments in emotional learning, especially in male mice. The goal is to uncover mechanisms behind these dysfunctions to inform future therapies for cognitive and emotional issues following cardiac arrest.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies aimed at improving emotional and cognitive outcomes for patients who have experienced cardiac arrest.
How similar studies have gone: While this specific approach to studying amygdala dysfunction after GCI is novel, related research has shown success in understanding cognitive impairments following cardiac events.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vigil, Jose Jacob — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Vigil, Jose Jacob
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how alcohol and how couples talk about consent affect intimate partner sexual violence
This project studies how alcohol use and how partners communicate about consent influence intimate partner sexual violence among sexual minority and heterosexual couples.
-
How proteins change and move as heart cells develop
This grant aims to map how protein turnover changes as human iPSCs turn into cardiomyocytes and other cell types, using new labeling and mass-spectrometry methods.
-
Center for Health, Work and Environment
A national center dedicated to improving health in people who work, by studying how jobs affect well-being and safety.
-
Subtyping Core for Research on the Causes of Type 2 Diabetes (SCORE-T2D)
A new U01 grant from a university research team aims to understand why Type 2 diabetes differs so much between people and how to tailor prevention and treatment.
-
Expanded antibody-based clues to TB risk in people with HIV
A clinician-scientist seeks to understand how antibodies in people with HIV may drive the progression from latent TB to active TB, with the goal of identifying clues that could guide future care.
-
Human Trisome Project in Latin America Network
A large, multi-site study of people with Down syndrome across Latin America to better understand health and aging in DS.
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.