Understanding how the immune system interacts with the blood-brain barrier
Immune Regulation of the Blood-Brain Barrier
This study is looking at how the immune system and the protective barrier around the brain work together, which could help find new ways to treat brain inflammation for people with related health issues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11042955 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates the interactions between the immune system and the blood-brain barrier, which is crucial for maintaining brain health. By using genetic manipulation techniques in animal models, the researchers aim to create a detailed atlas of immune signaling at the blood-brain barrier. This approach will help identify how inflammatory signals affect the barrier and how immune cells are recruited to the brain. The findings could lead to new immunotherapy targets for treating neuroinflammatory conditions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with neuroinflammatory conditions such as autoimmune encephalitis or encephalopathy.
Not a fit: Patients with non-neuroinflammatory conditions or those not experiencing immune-related brain issues may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to innovative treatments for conditions that affect the brain's immune response.
How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown promise in understanding immune interactions at the blood-brain barrier, suggesting potential for success in this innovative approach.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Brigham and Women's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wilcox, Douglas Robert — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Wilcox, Douglas Robert
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 below.