Using itaconate to reduce brain damage after a traumatic brain injury
Role of Irg-1/itaconate in modulating secondary brain damage after traumatic brain injury in mice
This project looks at whether boosting a natural molecule called itaconate can reduce inflammation and protect the brain after a traumatic brain injury.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tulane University of Louisiana NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Orleans, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11251650 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers use mouse models of traumatic brain injury to study how the enzyme Irg-1 and its product itaconate change immune cell behavior and blood–brain barrier responses after injury. They will raise or block Irg-1/itaconate levels using genetic and drug tools and then measure inflammation, mitochondrial function, blood–brain barrier leakage, and neurological outcomes. The team combines lab assays on brain tissue with behavioral tests in mice to model how these changes affect recovery over time.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for future clinical trials informed by this work would be people with a recent traumatic brain injury who are willing to try experimental therapies aimed at reducing inflammation and protecting the blood–brain barrier.
Not a fit: People with long-standing, stable brain injuries, non‑traumatic neurological conditions, or those unwilling to enroll in research may not receive direct benefit from this preclinical work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that limit secondary brain damage after TBI and improve recovery.
How similar studies have performed: Other laboratory studies show itaconate can reduce inflammatory signaling and protect tissues in cell and animal models, but its use specifically for traumatic brain injury is still preclinical and unproven in people.
Where this research is happening
New Orleans, United States
- Tulane University of Louisiana — New Orleans, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Xiaoying — Tulane University of Louisiana
- Study coordinator: Wang, Xiaoying
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.