Understanding how the brain and immune system interact after a heart attack

Brain-immune crosstalk in myocardial infarction

NIH-funded research Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-10832050

This study is looking at how the brain and immune system work together after a heart attack to help improve recovery and long-term health, and it’s for people who have had a heart attack to see how stress and inflammation might affect their healing.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionMassachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boston, United States)
Project IDNIH-10832050 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the communication between the brain and the immune system following a heart attack, known as myocardial infarction (MI). It aims to understand how different brain regions influence the immune response and healing process after MI, which can significantly affect recovery and long-term health. By examining the role of stress and inflammation, the study seeks to identify potential therapeutic targets that could improve outcomes for heart attack survivors. Patients may be monitored for changes in immune function and brain activity during recovery.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include individuals who have recently experienced a myocardial infarction and are undergoing recovery.

Not a fit: Patients who have not experienced a myocardial infarction or those with chronic heart conditions unrelated to acute events may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that enhance recovery and quality of life for heart attack survivors.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the brain-immune connection in other conditions, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights for myocardial infarction as well.

Where this research is happening

Boston, 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 Diseaseatherosclerotic disease
Last reviewed 2026-06-15 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.