Oxidized brain fats after head injuries in children
Official title: Oxidative Lipidomics in Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11401227 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are looking at how specific damaged brain fats after serious head injuries in children may cause brain cell loss and point to better treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $397,501 |
| NIH project number | 5R37NS061817-16 |
| Project ID | NIH-11401227 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children who have recently suffered severe traumatic brain injury, especially those treated at or near the research center, would be the most relevant candidates for related clinical trials.
✕Less likely to help
People with mild head injuries, non‑traumatic brain disorders, or injuries long after the acute phase are unlikely to benefit from these early-targeted approaches.
What this research studies
This research follows lab and animal work to identify which brain lipids become oxidized after severe pediatric traumatic brain injury and how those reactions lead to neuron death. The team studies mitochondrial cardiolipin and arachidonic acid–containing phosphatidylethanolamines and the roles of cytochrome c and 15‑lipoxygenase (15LOX)/PEBP1 complexes in producing harmful lipid peroxides. They test targeted inhibitors in immature rat models and biochemical assays to see if blocking specific lipid oxidation prevents cell death and preserves function. Results will help guide development of more precise antioxidant or anti‑ferroptosis therapies for children with severe TBI.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to targeted treatments that prevent brain cell death and improve recovery after severe head injuries in children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal work by this team showed that blocking mitochondrial cardiolipin oxidation preserved cognition in young rats, but broad antioxidant drugs in human TBI trials have largely failed, so this is a more targeted approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bayir, Hülya — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Bayir, Hülya
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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.