Measuring brain metabolism in patients with traumatic brain injury
Official title: In vivo MRI Measures of Brain Metabolism in Traumatic Brain Injury
Funded at Howard University · NIH-11094000 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a traumatic brain injury affects how your brain uses sugar for energy, and it's for anyone who has had a brain injury to help find better ways to understand and treat the condition.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Howard University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2022 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $389,048 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS123442-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11094000 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 and are experiencing chronic symptoms related to brain metabolism.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not experienced a traumatic brain injury or those with acute conditions unrelated to TBI may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects brain metabolism, particularly focusing on glucose utilization in the brain. By using advanced MRI techniques, the study aims to identify specific areas of the brain that are impacted by TBI and how these changes relate to long-term outcomes for patients. The approach combines both animal and human studies to better understand the neurovascular uncoupling that occurs after injury, which disrupts normal brain function. The goal is to develop more effective ways to evaluate and potentially treat TBI by restoring proper brain metabolism.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved diagnostic tools and treatment strategies for patients suffering from the long-term effects of traumatic brain injury.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been various studies on TBI, this research aims to utilize novel MRI techniques that have not been extensively tested in this specific context.
Where this research is happening
-
Howard University
Washington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tu, Tsang-Wei — Howard University
- Study coordinator: Tu, Tsang-Wei
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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.