Platelets and tiny blood vessel damage after traumatic brain injury
Platelets and Microvascular Dysfunction in Traumatic Brain Injury
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 ID | NIH-11123381 on NIH RePORTER |
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.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have experienced traumatic brain injury, particularly Veterans with persistent symptoms, are the group most likely to benefit from these findings.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment now or those whose problems are unrelated to blood‑vessel inflammation may not see direct benefit from this preclinical work.
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 performed: 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
Houston, United States
- 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
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 below.