NOX2 and microglia in brain injury: a potential path to better recovery
Official title: NOX2 drives microglia-dependent neurodegeneration after traumatic brain injury
Funded at University of Maryland Baltimore · NIH-11419561 · Data updated 2026-11-12
After a traumatic brain injury, harmful brain inflammation driven by microglia may lead to ongoing damage; this grant tests a targeted approach to calm microglia by focusing on NOX2 to protect brain function.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $396,399 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS129094-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11419561 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with traumatic brain injury who could participate in future translational studies or biomarker analyses related to microglial activation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose TBI does not involve microglial activation or who cannot participate in biomarker-focused studies may see no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at how microglia, the brain’s immune cells, stay activated after TBI and contribute to long-term problems. Researchers will use advanced single-cell RNA sequencing to map microglial subtypes and how deleting NOX2 changes their behavior. The goal is to see if reducing NOX2 can shift microglia from a damaging state to a more supportive one, potentially reducing cognitive and motor deficits. The work builds on prior findings that NOX2 is involved in chronic neuroinflammation and neurotoxicity after injury, and that altering microglia can improve outcomes in animal models. The study is designed to translate these insights toward new therapeutic targets for people who have suffered TBI.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could uncover new strategies to limit brain damage after TBI and improve recovery for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical work has shown that targeting microglia and NOX2 can reduce damage and improve outcomes after brain injury in models.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Maryland Baltimore
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stoica, Bogdan Adrian — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Stoica, Bogdan Adrian
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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.