Using blood tests to help diagnose stroke faster in African Americans
Official title: Blood transcriptomics as CT adjuvant to exclude hemorrhage in acute stroke
Funded at Morehouse School of Medicine · NIH-10866379 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new blood test that uses RNA to help doctors quickly and accurately diagnose strokes, especially in African American patients, so they can get the right treatment faster.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Morehouse School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2020 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $538,145 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS112422-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10866379 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are African American individuals experiencing symptoms of an acute stroke.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not identify as African American or those who are not experiencing acute stroke symptoms may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a blood-based biomarker assay that utilizes RNA sequencing to accurately diagnose strokes, particularly in African American populations. The study aims to enhance the speed of obtaining results through innovative sequencing technologies, which is crucial for timely treatment with thrombolytic therapy. By correlating the accuracy of the test with factors such as sex and race, the research seeks to ensure that minority populations are adequately represented in stroke diagnostics. The goal is to provide emergency room physicians with a reliable tool to confirm CT scan results, thereby facilitating quicker treatment decisions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the time to administer life-saving stroke treatments, ultimately lowering mortality rates and improving recovery outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using blood biomarkers for stroke diagnosis, but this specific approach focusing on minority populations is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Morehouse School of Medicine
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Meller, Robert — Morehouse School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Meller, Robert
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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-
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Targeting a brain inflammation regulator to protect cells after a stroke
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Predicting brain tissue outcome after acute stroke using AI
A researchers at Stanford are testing an AI system that uses brain scans and clinical data to predict which parts of the brain will recover after an acute stroke and how treatment might help.
-
Helping brain recovery for people with severe paralysis after a recent stroke
This project builds a wearable in-bed robot to give gentle movement and sensory training to adults with severe weakness right after a stroke.
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.