TRPM2 and brain injury after ischemic stroke

Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 2 (TRPM2) in Ischemic Stroke

NIH-funded research University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt · NIH-11237094

This project tests whether blocking the TRPM2 protein can protect the brain after an ischemic stroke, including in models that mimic common patient conditions like high cholesterol.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Farmington, United States)
Project IDNIH-11237094 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Researchers will study TRPM2, a protein that lets calcium into cells during oxidative stress, to understand how it contributes to brain cell injury after a blocked blood vessel. They will use standard rodent stroke models and newer models that include common patient factors such as hyperlipidemia to better match what happens in people. The team will block or remove TRPM2 and measure brain damage, inflammation, and functional recovery to see if targeting this protein reduces injury. Results could point to a treatment approach that works across multiple processes that cause stroke damage.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People who have had an ischemic stroke, especially those with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or high cholesterol, would be the patient group most likely to benefit from follow-up therapies.

Not a fit: Patients with hemorrhagic (bleeding) stroke or other non-ischemic brain injuries are unlikely to benefit from therapies targeting TRPM2.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new therapies that reduce brain damage and improve recovery after ischemic stroke.

How similar studies have performed: Previous animal studies indicate TRPM2 contributes to stroke damage, but targeting it has not yet produced proven human therapies, so this approach remains promising but experimental.

Where this research is happening

Farmington, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.