Treatments to prevent long-term brain injury after organophosphate poisoning
UC Davis CounterACT Center of Excellence: Developing Therapeutic Strategies for Mitigating the Chronic Neurological Consequences of Acute Organophosphate Intoxication
This project looks at new treatments given with emergency care to help prevent long-term brain problems after organophosphate (pesticide or nerve agent) poisoning.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11378870 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers at UC Davis are combining three projects to find therapies that can be added to standard emergency care after organophosphate poisoning. One project focuses on drugs that reduce brain inflammation, another works to protect the blood-brain barrier, and a third aims to calm overactive brain cells using drugs or electrophysiologic approaches. The center includes chemistry and analytic cores to develop candidate medicines, measure drug levels, and support testing in lab and preclinical systems. The goal is to create treatments that can be given after exposure to lower the chance of long-term seizures, memory problems, and other neurological issues.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21+) who recently experienced acute organophosphate or anticholinesterase poisoning and who can receive additional treatments alongside emergency care would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: People without organophosphate exposure, children under 21, or those who arrive too late for adjunctive treatment may not receive benefit from these interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these approaches could lower the risk or severity of long-term neurological problems (like seizures or cognitive decline) after organophosphate poisoning.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies and some early-stage work suggest that reducing inflammation and protecting the blood-brain barrier can help, but there is limited clinical proof yet that these methods prevent long-term brain problems after organophosphate poisoning.
Where this research is happening
Davis, United States
- University of California at Davis — Davis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lein, Pamela J — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Lein, Pamela J
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.