Platelets and tiny blood vessel damage after traumatic brain injury
Official title: Platelets and Microvascular Dysfunction in Traumatic Brain Injury
Funded at Michael E Debakey VA Medical Center · NIH-11123381 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether blood platelets cause lasting small‑vessel and blood–brain barrier problems after traumatic brain injury, especially in Veterans.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Michael E Debakey VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5IK2BX006462-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11123381 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who have experienced traumatic brain injury, particularly Veterans with persistent symptoms, are the group most likely to benefit from these findings.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate treatment now or those whose problems are unrelated to blood‑vessel inflammation may not see direct benefit from this preclinical work.
What this research studies
If I've had a TBI, the team will use advanced live microscopy and a controlled brain‑injury model to watch how platelets stick to tiny blood vessels and affect the blood–brain barrier over time. They will follow the same injuries repeatedly to see how early platelet activity might lead to ongoing symptoms or brain changes. The work is done in lab models that mimic TBI and aims to identify biological signals or targets that could guide future treatments. While it does not offer immediate therapies, the findings are meant to help design interventions to prevent long‑term problems after TBI.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could identify new targets to prevent or reduce long‑term brain and blood‑vessel damage after traumatic brain injury.
How similar studies have gone: Prior animal and early clinical work has linked platelets to acute vascular problems after TBI, but applying high‑resolution live imaging to connect platelet activity to long‑term symptoms is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Michael E Debakey VA Medical Center
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Courson, Justin a — Michael E Debakey VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Courson, Justin a
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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.