Investigating how to repair brain blood vessel damage caused by COVID-19
Official title: Targeting cerebrovascular Wnt/beta-catenin signaling to reverse brain endothelial damage induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection
Funded at University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-11049481 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how COVID-19 can cause ongoing brain problems for some people and is exploring ways to fix the damage to the brain's blood vessels, especially focusing on how age plays a role and testing new treatments that might help improve thinking and memory.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | December 1, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $801,329 |
| NIH project number | 1R01NS135072-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11049481 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 and are experiencing neurological symptoms such as cognitive impairment or other related disorders.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not had COVID-19 or those without neurological symptoms may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the long-lasting neurological effects that some COVID-19 survivors experience, known as NeuroPASC. It aims to explore how damage to the blood-brain barrier contributes to these neurological issues and how a specific signaling pathway, Wnt/β-catenin, can be targeted to restore the integrity of brain blood vessels. The researchers will examine how age affects this process and will test potential therapies that could reverse blood-brain barrier damage and improve cognitive function in affected individuals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that alleviate neurological symptoms in COVID-19 survivors.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in targeting similar pathways for neurological recovery, suggesting potential for success in this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lutz, Sarah Elizabeth — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Lutz, Sarah Elizabeth
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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How COVID-19 infection and genes may influence memory and dementia risk
This study looks at how getting COVID-19 and a person’s genes together affect the chance of developing memory problems and Alzheimer’s disease later in life.
-
Alzheimer’s-related dementia after COVID-19: how SARS-CoV-2 affects the brain and potential drug repurposing
This research looks at how COVID-19 may contribute to dementia by studying brain inflammation, blood vessel injury, and virus-host interactions, with the goal of finding existing drugs that could help.
-
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Maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection and its effects on placenta and child development
This grant studies how COVID-19 infection during pregnancy might change the placenta and influence a child’s brain development, especially in kids who may be at higher genetic risk for ADHD/ASD.
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How COVID-19 and genetics influence memory and dementia risk in older adults
This project studies how getting COVID-19 interacts with people’s genetic makeup to affect the likelihood of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease in older adults from diverse backgrounds.
-
Impact of COVID-19 on latent TB reactivation in Kenya
This project in Kenya checks how having had COVID-19 might influence the reactivation of latent tuberculosis in adults.
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.