Protecting the brain after stroke by targeting the gut with IGF-1
Official title: Targeting the Gut for Stroke Neuroprotection; IGF-1 Modulation of the Blood-Gut Barrier
Funded at Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr · NIH-11390954 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests whether targeting the gut and the blood-gut barrier with IGF-1 can reduce brain damage and long-term memory and mood problems after ischemic stroke, particularly in older postmenopausal women.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Station, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2022 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $549,767 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS119872-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11390954 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Most relevant candidates would be older, postmenopausal women who have experienced an ischemic stroke and are interested in gut-brain approaches to recovery.
✕Less likely to help
People without ischemic stroke, individuals with hemorrhagic stroke, or younger premenopausal patients are less likely to benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
They use a rat model that mimics the postmenopausal state to study how ischemic stroke affects the brain and the gut. IGF-1 is delivered to examine whether it preserves barrier function, reduces inflammation, and limits the size of the brain injury. The team follows longer-term outcomes such as memory and depressive-like behaviors and analyzes gut bacteria using 16S sequencing to link microbiome changes to recovery. The goal is to identify gut-related mechanisms that could be targeted to protect older women after stroke.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new gut-directed treatments that protect brain tissue and lower the risk of post-stroke cognitive decline and depression in older women.
How similar studies have gone: Prior animal work shows intracerebral IGF-1 can reduce acute brain injury, but benefits for long-term mood, cognition, and systemic inflammation remain unclear, so the approach is partly promising but still experimental.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr
College Station, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sohrabji, Farida — Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr
- Study coordinator: Sohrabji, Farida
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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.