Targeting specific brain cell circuits to improve recovery after stroke
Determining the efficacy of therapeutic interventions after stroke from cell specific functional connectomes
This project explores whether changing specific brain cell circuits can help adults regain movement and behavior after a stroke.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11259439 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will map how excitatory and inhibitory brain cells reconnect after a focal ischemic stroke and build cell-specific 'functional connectomes' that show circuit-level links. They will connect those cell-level changes to behavior and recovery outcomes and test interventions that shift excitatory or inhibitory balance to promote repair. The work uses detailed imaging, circuit tracing, and behavioral measures to identify which cellular changes predict better recovery. Findings are intended to guide therapies that target the right cells and circuits for people who have had a stroke.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults who have experienced a focal ischemic stroke and are living with persistent motor or cognitive deficits would be the most relevant candidates for future treatments developed from this work.
Not a fit: People without ischemic stroke, those with hemorrhagic stroke, or patients with extensive, irreversible brain damage may not benefit from these targeted approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to more precise, cell-targeted therapies that help people recover function faster and more fully after stroke.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies show that brain-wide functional connectivity changes with recovery, but directly linking cell-type specific circuit remodeling to behavioral improvement is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bauer, Adam Q — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Bauer, Adam Q
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.