Tiny brain particles in blood that show what's happening in the brain
Studying normal and disease processes in brain with extracellular vesicles
Researchers will look for signals in tiny brain-derived particles found in blood to help detect and track schizophrenia and other brain disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11300985 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project focuses on extracellular vesicles (EVs), tiny particles released by brain cells that can cross into the bloodstream, to learn about normal brain function and disease such as schizophrenia. Researchers will isolate EVs from blood samples and analyze their RNA and protein cargo to find molecular signals linked to brain processes. They will compare these signals to known brain findings and to available tissue donor information to identify markers that reflect what's happening in the brain. The aim is to develop non-invasive blood-based biomarkers that could improve diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment monitoring.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with schizophrenia and matched healthy volunteers who can provide blood samples and, where requested, consent to tissue donation.
Not a fit: People who do not have brain disorders or who are unable or unwilling to provide blood samples or tissue donation are unlikely to benefit directly from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could enable blood tests to help diagnose or monitor schizophrenia and other brain conditions.
How similar studies have performed: Early studies using brain-derived EVs show promising biomarker signals, but directly linking EV RNA cargo to brain disease processes in schizophrenia remains largely novel and exploratory.
Where this research is happening
Richmond, United States
- Virginia Commonwealth University — Richmond, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Van Den Oord, Edwin — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Van Den Oord, Edwin
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.