Investigating treatments for Tuberculous Meningitis using animal models
Official title: Preclinical modeling to study Tuberculous Meningitis
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-10805504 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how to make treatments better for tuberculous meningitis, especially for young kids and people with HIV, by using rabbits to see how well different medicines can reach the brain and reduce inflammation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2020 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $782,304 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI145435-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10805504 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include young children and HIV-infected individuals who are at high risk for Tuberculous meningitis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other forms of meningitis or those who are not within the vulnerable age group or HIV-infected population may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on Tuberculous meningitis, a severe disease that primarily affects young children and individuals with HIV. It aims to improve treatment outcomes by utilizing a rabbit model that mimics the disease's neurological features. The study employs advanced imaging techniques, such as positron emission tomography (PET), to assess how well various antimicrobial drugs penetrate the central nervous system and to evaluate inflammation and blood-brain barrier function. By optimizing treatment strategies based on these findings, the research seeks to enhance the effectiveness of therapies for this life-threatening condition.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment protocols for Tuberculous meningitis, potentially saving lives and reducing long-term neurological damage.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using animal models and advanced imaging techniques to study infectious diseases, indicating that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jain, Sanjay — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Jain, Sanjay
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Personalized Immunomodulatory Therapy for HIV-related Cryptococcal Meningitis
A patient-focused study investigates a personalized treatment approach to improve outcomes for people with HIV who develop cryptococcal meningitis.
-
Improving Diagnostics and Neurocognitive Outcomes in HIV/AIDS-related Meningitis
A study in Uganda aims to use faster, better tests and a new antifungal to help people with HIV who develop meningitis.
-
TB meningitis diagnostic test compare and cost study in sub-Saharan Africa
Researchers are testing a new CSF urine-based test (SILVAMP TB LAM) to improve diagnosis of TB meningitis in people with HIV, to help speed treatment and reduce death in Sub-Saharan Africa.
-
Minimally Invasive Sampling to Improve HIV-Associated M meningitis Diagnosis in Africa
A research study is testing easier, less invasive ways to diagnose meningitis in people living with HIV, with a focus on making diagnosis faster and more accurate in Africa and the US.
-
Understanding brain injury in kids with tuberculous meningitis (iThemba)
A study in children with TB meningitis in South Africa will look at how inflammation and blood-clotting factors relate to brain injury and infarcts.
-
Serological clues to survival in HIV-related cryptococcal meningitis
This grant looks for antibody signals in the blood that could predict who survives cryptococcal meningitis in people with HIV.
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.