Understanding Brain Injury During ECMO Treatment
Official title: DELTA ECMO ABI study (Assessing Acute Brain Injury after Rapid Reduction of PaCO2 upon ECMO Cannulation using Portable MRI and Biomarkers)
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11163474 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at why some people develop brain injury when they receive life-saving ECMO support for severe heart and lung failure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | August 7, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $204,688 |
| NIH project number | 5R21NS135045-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11163474 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is relevant for patients experiencing severe heart and lung failure who require ECMO treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not require ECMO for severe heart and lung failure would not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
When patients need ECMO for severe heart and lung problems, they often have high levels of carbon dioxide in their blood, which is quickly lowered once ECMO begins. We believe this rapid change in carbon dioxide levels might cause blood vessels in the brain to narrow, reducing oxygen delivery and leading to brain injury. To understand this better, we will use portable MRI scans and look at specific markers in the blood during the first 24 hours of ECMO treatment. Our goal is to find out how these early changes affect patient outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to prevent brain injury in patients receiving ECMO, improving their recovery and long-term health.
How similar studies have gone: While ECMO is a known life-saving therapy, there is currently a limited understanding of why acute brain injury occurs during the process, making this a novel area of focus.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cho, Sung-Min — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Cho, Sung-Min
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Sleep patterns predicting recovery after acute brain injury
Researchers will look at brain sleep signals to see if certain sleep patterns can forecast when patients who are unconscious after a brain injury may start to wake up and recover.
-
Brain cell ion balance and swelling after sudden brain injury
They are looking at how changes in ion levels and cell size after a sudden brain injury cause swelling or shrinkage for people with acquired brain injuries, including newborns.
-
EEG tools to predict recovery after sudden brain injury
This project will use computer-based EEG tools to help doctors predict recovery and seizure risk for people hospitalized with sudden (acute) brain injuries.
-
Using EEG to guide seizure medicines after stroke or head injury
This project looks at whether using bedside EEG brain monitoring to guide anti-seizure medicines for people with recent stroke or traumatic brain injury can prevent harmful brain activity while cutting down medicine side effects.
-
Helping patients with acute brain injuries and their caregivers build resilience together
This study is for patients who have had a brain injury, like a stroke, and their caregivers, and it offers a friendly program called 'Recovering Together' to help them cope with stress and support each other while they heal in the hospital.
-
Understanding outcomes and care needs after severe brain injuries
This study is looking at how people who have had serious brain injuries, like strokes or heart attacks, are doing in their final weeks of life and how we can make their care better, while also understanding how this affects their family members who are helping them.
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.