Investigating how certain enzymes affect recovery from brain injuries and dementia.
Official title: Pharmacological inhibition of NEP-like enzymes in traumatic brain injury and dementia
Funded at Rosalind Franklin Univ of Medicine & Sci · NIH-11088216 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain enzymes might help the brain heal after a traumatic brain injury and how they could be connected to dementia, with the hope that what we learn could lead to better treatments for both conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rosalind Franklin Univ of Medicine & Sci NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (North Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $197,375 |
| NIH project number | 5R21NS130331-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11088216 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals who have experienced a traumatic brain injury or are at risk for dementia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to traumatic brain injury or dementia may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the role of NEP-like enzymes in the recovery process following traumatic brain injury (TBI) and their potential link to the development of dementia. By using humanized transgenic mice, the study will manipulate the activity of these enzymes to assess their impact on amyloid-beta peptide levels, which are crucial for brain health. The research aims to understand both the immediate and long-term effects of these enzymes on brain recovery and dementia risk. Patients may benefit from insights that could lead to new treatments for TBI and dementia.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapeutic strategies for improving recovery from traumatic brain injuries and reducing the risk of developing dementia.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in understanding the role of amyloid-beta clearance in brain injuries, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Rosalind Franklin Univ of Medicine & Sci
North Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Marr, Robert Anthony — Rosalind Franklin Univ of Medicine & Sci
- Study coordinator: Marr, Robert Anthony
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Traumatic Brain Injury Across Life: How TBI Relates to Later Dementia Risk
This study looks at how head injuries over a person’s life affect their chances of developing Alzheimer's disease or related dementias later on.
-
Cis-proline tau toxicity in brain injury and dementia
Aims to understand how a specific toxic form of tau protein appears after brain injury and contributes to Alzheimer’s-related dementia, and how early intervention might protect neurons.
-
Harmful tau protein changes after brain injury and vascular dementia
This project will try blocking a harmful form of tau protein and boosting a protective neuron response to help people with traumatic brain injury or vascular-related dementia.
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Investigating how a specific protein contributes to brain damage in Alzheimer's and related conditions
This study is looking at how a specific form of a protein called cis P-tau might contribute to Alzheimer's disease and other brain issues, especially after injuries or reduced blood flow, to find new ways to protect brain cells and improve treatments for people affected by these conditions.
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Investigating how traumatic brain injury may lead to dementia.
This study is looking at how a traumatic brain injury (TBI) might increase the chances of developing dementia, and it’s for anyone who has had a TBI and wants to help us understand how it affects brain health over time.
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AI-enhanced virtual reality tool to support remote emergency brain surgery training in Tanzania
A new AI-powered virtual reality tool helps non-experts in low-resource areas get real-time remote guidance for emergency traumatic brain injury surgery.
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.