Where and when tau builds up in CTE after repeated head injuries
Characterization of the spatial and temporal response to tau in chronic traumatic encephalopathy
This project looks at how the tau protein changes and spreads in people with repeated head injuries to better understand chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University Medical Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11237114 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
I want to know how tau protein and brain inflammation appear and move through the brain after years of repeated head impacts. The team will use donated brain tissue from the Boston University CTE brain bank and apply advanced laboratory mapping and molecular tools to locate tau and inflammatory signals. They will compare early-stage and late-stage cases to see how damage starts and spreads across brain regions. The findings aim to guide future tests and treatments to prevent or slow CTE in people exposed to repeated head injury.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with a history of repeated head impacts—such as former contact-sport athletes, military veterans, or survivors of repeated assault—and those with new memory, mood, or behavioral changes would be most relevant for donation or future trials.
Not a fit: People without a history of repeated head injury or whose symptoms are caused by other non-tau brain diseases are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal markers or targets that help diagnose or slow CTE in people with a history of repeated head impacts.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked tau buildup and inflammation to CTE, but this detailed spatial and time-course mapping using the BU brain bank is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston University Medical Campus — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cherry, Jonathan D — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Cherry, Jonathan D
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.