Investigating the role of brain endothelial cilia in maintaining blood vessel stability
Official title: Basolateral brain endothelial cilia and its role in promoting vascular stability
Funded at Medical College of Wisconsin · NIH-11119191 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at tiny hair-like structures on the sides of blood vessels in the brain to see how they help brain cells communicate and keep blood vessels healthy, which could be important for people with conditions affecting brain blood flow.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical College of Wisconsin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Milwaukee, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $661,170 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL179583-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11119191 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with conditions affecting brain blood vessels or those at risk for vascular instability.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to vascular stability or those without brain vascular issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the presence of cilia on the basolateral side of brain blood vessels and their potential role in communication with surrounding cells to maintain vascular stability. The study hypothesizes that these cilia are crucial for signaling between endothelial cells and pericytes, which are important for the health of blood vessels. By examining the interactions at the cellular level, the research aims to understand how these signals contribute to the stability of the vascular system in the brain. The methodology includes evaluating specific signaling molecules and their effects on endothelial cell behavior in a controlled laboratory setting.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preventing or treating vascular-related diseases in the brain.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific focus on basolateral cilia in brain endothelial cells is novel, similar research has shown promising results in understanding vascular stability through cellular communication.
Where this research is happening
-
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ramchandran, Ramani — Medical College of Wisconsin
- Study coordinator: Ramchandran, Ramani
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.