Protecting the brain from chemotherapy effects
Official title: Neurotrophic strategy to mitigate chemotherapy-related brain injury
Funded at University of California-Irvine · NIH-11178017 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks for ways to help cancer survivors recover their thinking skills and brain health after chemotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project start | September 6, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $493,110 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA276212-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11178017 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is relevant for cancer survivors, especially those who have received chemotherapy and experience cognitive difficulties, often called 'chemobrain.'
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not undergone chemotherapy or do not experience cancer-related cognitive impairment would likely not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Many cancer survivors experience 'chemobrain,' which causes memory and thinking problems after chemotherapy, significantly impacting their quality of life with no current treatments available. Researchers have found that a vital brain protein called BDNF, crucial for brain repair and function, decreases in both human blood and rodent brains following chemotherapy. This project aims to develop new strategies to increase BDNF levels and repair brain damage caused by chemotherapy. The goal is to restore normal brain function and thinking abilities in cancer patients and survivors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that help cancer survivors regain their memory and thinking abilities, significantly improving their quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have identified a link between chemotherapy, reduced brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and cognitive issues, laying the groundwork for this new regenerative approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chan, Alexandre — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Chan, Alexandre
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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.