NIH-funded research R01 grant

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.

More Brain Injury research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Maryland Baltimore
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Baltimore, United States)
Project startAugust 1, 2022
Project endJuly 31, 2027
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$396,399
NIH project number5R01NS129094-05
Project IDNIH-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

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.