Role of a brain blood vessel pump in controlling brain barrier function
Official title: The role of ATP13A5 ATPase in determining blood-brain pericyte functions
Funded at Tulane University of Louisiana · NIH-11458735 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A researcher is studying how a specific brain cell pump helps keep the blood-brain barrier strong and how this affects brain protection and drug delivery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tulane University of Louisiana NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Orleans, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $1,068,151 |
| NIH project number | 7RF1NS135617-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11458735 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients with neurodegenerative conditions or those at risk where brain barrier function is important, potentially benefiting from future therapies that target barrier biology.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals or patients with conditions not related to brain barrier function may see no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project investigates how the ATP13A5 ATPase in brain blood vessels contributes to the unique permeability of the blood-brain barrier. Using animal models, the team aims to identify genetic markers and molecular pathways that distinguish the barrier from other blood vessels and to understand how these mechanisms maintain brain protection. Findings could clarify why some drugs fail to reach the brain and open possibilities for safer drug delivery to treat brain diseases. The work is grounded in biology that directly relates to human brain health and neurodegenerative conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could inform new strategies to treat brain diseases and improve delivery of therapeutics across the blood-brain barrier.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research shows that BBB biology is key to CNS health, and similar approaches have provided insights, though this study explores a specific ATPase role.
Where this research is happening
-
Tulane University of Louisiana
New Orleans, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhao, Zhen — Tulane University of Louisiana
- Study coordinator: Zhao, Zhen
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.