Protecting the brain from nerve agent damage
Inhibiting mPGES-1 as a countermeasure to mitigate organophosphate-induced neurotoxicity
This research looks for new ways to protect children's brains from damage caused by nerve agents.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Memphis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11299345 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Nerve agents can cause serious brain damage, especially in children, and current treatments often don't work well unless given very quickly. This project explores whether blocking a specific enzyme called mPGES-1 can reduce brain inflammation and damage after exposure to these agents. Researchers will use very young mice to understand how nerve agents affect developing brains differently than adult brains. The aim is to find a new treatment that could prevent long-term problems.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research focuses on understanding brain injury from nerve agents, particularly in young individuals, and is not directly recruiting patients at this stage.
Not a fit: Patients not affected by organophosphate-induced neurotoxicity would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that better protect children from the severe and lasting brain damage caused by nerve agents.
How similar studies have performed: While current countermeasures have limitations, the idea that inflammation plays a key role in nerve agent damage is supported by existing evidence, making this approach a novel extension.
Where this research is happening
Memphis, United States
- University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr — Memphis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jiang, Jianxiong — University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr
- Study coordinator: Jiang, Jianxiong
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.