Tracking tiny blood vessel damage in the brain after head injury with MRI
Longitudinal MRI Investigation of Traumatic Microvascular Injury
We will use repeated MRI scans to track small blood vessel damage in people who had a traumatic brain injury to learn how this damage might lead to dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11321147 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would have regular brain MRI scans that focus on tiny blood vessel changes after a head injury. Researchers will combine those images with cognitive testing and other clinical information over multiple visits. The team will watch how vascular changes evolve over months to years and how those changes relate to memory, thinking, and daily function. The goal is to create reliable imaging markers that could help predict outcomes and guide future treatments for people with TBI-related decline.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults who have experienced a prior traumatic brain injury and are willing to attend repeated MRI scans and follow-up visits at the study site.
Not a fit: People without a history of traumatic brain injury or those who cannot safely have MRI scans (for example, due to certain implanted medical devices or severe claustrophobia) would likely not benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help doctors identify people at higher risk of dementia after a head injury and target treatments earlier.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked TBI to long-term brain decline and suggested vascular damage plays a role, but long-term human MRI tracking of microvascular dysfunction is still relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ware, Jeffrey B — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Ware, Jeffrey B
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.