Understanding how blood vessel dysfunction occurs in cerebral malaria and ways to restore it
Official title: Mechanisms of endothelial dysfunction in cerebral malaria and barrier restorative pathways
Funded at Seattle Children's Hospital · NIH-10897766 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how malaria can cause problems in the blood vessels of the brain, which can lead to serious issues like swelling, and it's testing new ways to help fix the damage caused by the infection.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Seattle Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | September 23, 2020 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $705,576 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI148802-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10897766 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with cerebral malaria, particularly those experiencing severe symptoms.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with mild malaria or those who do not have cerebral malaria may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the mechanisms behind blood vessel dysfunction in cerebral malaria, a severe complication of malaria infection. It focuses on how infected red blood cells cause blockages and breakdowns in the blood-brain barrier, leading to brain swelling. The study employs advanced 3D human brain microvessel models to explore the interactions between inflammatory signals from both the malaria parasite and the host. Additionally, it evaluates the potential of specific kinase inhibitors to restore the integrity of the blood-brain barrier after damage.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that protect the brain from damage caused by cerebral malaria.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using kinase inhibitors for similar endothelial barrier restoration, indicating potential for success in this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Seattle Children's Hospital
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Smith, Joseph D — Seattle Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Smith, Joseph D
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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.