Preventing long-term brain damage after organophosphate poisoning
UC Davis CounterACT Center of Excellence: Developing Therapeutic Strategies for Mitigating the Chronic Neurological Consequences of Acute Organophosphate Intoxication
Testing new treatments given after organophosphate poisoning to help prevent lasting brain problems in adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11174291 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers at UC Davis are developing treatments to add to standard emergency care after organophosphate poisoning to reduce long-term neurological harm. The center is testing three approaches: drugs that calm brain inflammation, strategies that protect the blood-brain barrier, and treatments that normalize overactive brain cell signaling. Chemistry and analytic cores will make and measure candidate drugs while lab teams run experiments in models to find the most promising options. The goal is practical therapies that could be given in the field or hospital to lower the risk of chronic cognitive, motor, or seizure problems.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (typically 21+) who have experienced acute organophosphate poisoning or survived such an exposure would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: Children, people with brain problems not caused by organophosphate exposure, or those whose exposure occurred long ago with established irreversible damage may not benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these approaches could lower the chance of lasting cognitive, motor, or seizure problems after organophosphate poisoning.
How similar studies have performed: Current emergency drugs can save lives but usually do not prevent long-term brain problems, and while preclinical work suggests anti-inflammatory and blood-brain barrier–protecting approaches may help, clinical evidence in people is limited.
Where this research is happening
Davis, United States
- University of California at Davis — Davis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lein, Pamela J — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Lein, Pamela J
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.