Understanding the link between psychological trauma, the immune system, and high blood pressure
Official title: Neuroimmune dynamics involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension after psychological trauma
Funded at Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr · NIH-11098695 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores how psychological trauma, like that experienced in PTSD, affects the immune system and leads to high blood pressure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Station, United States) |
| Project start | July 20, 2021 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $542,697 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL158521-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11098695 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research is for future patients living with PTSD who are at risk for or already have high blood pressure.
✕Less likely to help
Patients will not receive direct medical benefit from participating in this preclinical research, as it does not involve human subjects or clinical trials.
What this research studies
We know that conditions like PTSD can significantly increase the risk of developing high blood pressure. This project aims to uncover the specific ways that the brain and immune cells, particularly T-lymphocytes, interact after psychological trauma to cause inflammation and raise blood pressure. Researchers are using preclinical models to understand these complex connections, including how stress hormones and cellular processes contribute to these changes. The goal is to pinpoint the exact mechanisms that make someone more prone to high blood pressure after experiencing trauma.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to prevent or treat high blood pressure in people who have experienced psychological trauma.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work from this laboratory has identified T-lymphocytes as a key source of inflammation after psychological trauma and linked them to blood pressure changes.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr
College Station, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Case, Adam J — Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr
- Study coordinator: Case, Adam J
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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.