Understanding how the immune system interacts with the blood-brain barrier
Official title: Immune Regulation of the Blood-Brain Barrier
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-11042955 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 start | December 1, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $230,580 |
| NIH project number | 1K08NS136723-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11042955 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with neuroinflammatory conditions such as autoimmune encephalitis or encephalopathy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-neuroinflammatory conditions or those not experiencing immune-related brain issues may not benefit from this research.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
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
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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.