Mitochondrial therapy after brain injury to protect the brain
Official title: Mitochondrial modulation therapy after brain trauma
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11596365 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to see if a light-based therapy given after brain injury can protect brain cells and reduce damage.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $60,405 |
| NIH project number | 3R01NS142271-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11596365 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals at risk of or recently experiencing acute traumatic brain injury who could participate in early-phase translational studies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with chronic brain injury or injuries outside the acute window may not benefit from this intervention.
What this research studies
This grant tests a wearable or injectable near-infrared light approach to modulate mitochondria after traumatic brain injury (TBI). The study builds on prior lab work showing reduced damaging reactive oxygen species and improved cell survival when mitochondria are gently modulated by light. The team will investigate how this therapy affects the brain’s energy factories and cell death pathways in acute injury, using models that mimic human TBI and preliminary human-relevant data. If results are promising, this could lead to new neuroprotective options for people who have suffered a TBI.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the therapy could lessen brain damage after TBI and improve outcomes for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data suggest near-infrared modulation of mitochondria can reduce injury-induced damage in acute brain injury models.
Where this research is happening
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University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wider, Joseph — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Wider, Joseph
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.