ROMA:Cog trial compares single vs multiple arterial grafts for brain health after CABG
Official title: Randomized Comparison of the Clinical Outcome of Single Versus Multiple Arterial Grafts: Cognition (ROMA:Cog)
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11599413 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in adults undergoing heart bypass surgery will test whether one arterial graft or multiple arterial grafts affect brain function and brain injury markers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | July 18, 2026 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $50,000 |
| NIH project number | 3R01NS123639-05S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11599413 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who have undergone or are planning CABG and are part of the parent ROMA:Cog cohort or related biospecimen banks.
✕Less likely to help
People without access to the parent cohort data or without available plasma samples may not benefit from this ancillary study.
What this research studies
This project builds on a prior study and uses existing patient samples, cognitive tests, and MRI data to explore if a specific blood marker of brain immune cells (microglia) is linked to post-surgery brain changes. Researchers will measure plasma sTREM2, alongside cognitive performance and MRI indicators, to better understand why some people have cognitive problems after CABG. The goal is to improve early risk prediction and lay groundwork for strategies to prevent neurocognitive decline after heart surgery. The work integrates biomarkers, imaging, and neuropsychology to map how heart surgery might impact the brain.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help identify patients at higher risk for cognitive problems after CABG and guide future interventions to protect brain health.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work links post-op cognitive changes to imaging findings and biomarkers, but this supplement adds microglial markers which are less explored.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Masterson Creber, Ruth Marie — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Masterson Creber, Ruth Marie
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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.