Repairing brain blood-vessel signaling to fix COVID-related blood–brain barrier damage
Official title: Targeting cerebrovascular Wnt/beta-catenin signaling to reverse brain endothelial damage induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection
Funded at University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-11238015 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work tests whether restoring a key signaling pathway in brain blood vessels can heal the blood–brain barrier and help with long-term brain problems after COVID-19.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | December 1, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $801,329 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS135072-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11238015 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People experiencing long-term cognitive problems, memory issues, or other neurological symptoms after COVID-19—especially older adults—would be the most relevant candidates for future related trials or sample donation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose symptoms are unrelated to prior SARS-CoV-2 infection or to blood–brain barrier dysfunction are unlikely to benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
Researchers will study how the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway keeps the blood–brain barrier intact after SARS-CoV-2 infection. They will look at how aging changes this signaling and whether turning the pathway back on can stop leakage and reduce brain inflammation. The team will measure blood–brain barrier permeability and memory function and trace whether leakage happens between cells or through cells. Findings will guide whether targeting this pathway could become a treatment approach for people with long-term COVID-related neurological symptoms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to treatments that restore the blood–brain barrier and reduce chronic cognitive and neurological symptoms after COVID-19.
How similar studies have gone: Laboratory studies have shown Wnt/β-catenin is important for blood–brain barrier health, but applying this pathway to reverse COVID-related brain injury is a new and largely untested idea.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lutz, Sarah Elizabeth — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Lutz, Sarah Elizabeth
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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.