Thalamic IL-33 signaling and aging-related cognitive decline after brain injury
Official title: Influence of thalamic IL-33 signaling in aging-associated exacerbation of cognitive impairment after brain injury via microglial dysfunction and tau pathology
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11396567 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aiming to understand how aging and brain injury interact to worsen memory and thinking problems by studying a specific brain signal (IL-33) in the thalamus and its effect on brain immune cells and tau pathology.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $459,561 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG079129-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11396567 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with a history of traumatic brain injury who are aging or older, with an interest in preventing dementia.
✕Less likely to help
This research uses animal models to understand mechanisms and may not directly benefit every individual with brain injury in the near term.
What this research studies
This project studies why older brains have worse cognitive outcomes after traumatic brain injury, focusing on the thalamus and immune cell responses. Researchers will use aging mouse models to manipulate IL-33 signaling in oligodendrocytes and observe effects on microglia, tau buildup, and cognitive tasks. The work builds on prior findings that thalamic IL-33 may drive worse deficits after injury, with a goal of identifying targets to prevent decline in aging patients. Results could inform strategies to protect cognition after brain injuries in older adults.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new approaches to reduce dementia risk and cognitive decline after brain injuries in older people.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies in animals suggest thalamic microglia and IL-33 pathways influence age-related cognitive changes after injury; the approach is building on established animal data.
Where this research is happening
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University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kano, Shinichi — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Kano, Shinichi
Related research
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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.