Ultrasound-Activated Gas Bubbles to Treat Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Official title: Ultrasound-Activated Therapeutic Gas Microbubbles for Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury
Funded at New Jersey Institute of Technology · NIH-11291992 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study tests ultrasound-activated gas bubbles to protect and help brain cells after mild traumatic brain injuries, especially in military, veterans, and civilians exposed to blasts.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New Jersey Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $559,641 |
| NIH project number | 1R15NS147330-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11291992 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with or at risk for mild traumatic brain injury, such as military personnel, veterans, law enforcement, or patients with blast-related exposure.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without TBI-related brain injury or those not suitable for ultrasound-activated gas therapy may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to use tiny, gas-filled bubbles that respond to ultrasound to deliver protective effects to the brain after mild TBI. Researchers are studying how these bubbles interact with argon or xenon gases to reduce damage and support recovery in brain tissue. The approach is designed to be targeted to the brain and to minimize side effects while potentially improving long-term outcomes like memory and mood. The funded work will primarily involve preclinical experiments in rodent models to understand safety and mechanism before any human testing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to a new, non-invasive treatment to reduce brain injury damage and improve recovery for people who have experienced mild TBI.
How similar studies have gone: Previous preclinical work suggests cytoprotective effects of noble gases, with ongoing exploration of targeted delivery methods like ultrasound-activated bubbles.
Where this research is happening
-
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pfister, Bryan J. — New Jersey Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Pfister, Bryan J.
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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.