# Evaluating the interaction of the immune system and inflammation on the progression of blast-mediated  neurodegeneration.

> **NIH VA I01** · IOWA CITY VA MEDICAL CENTER · 2022 · —

## Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death, accounting for ~30% of all injury deaths in America,
with over 2 million Americans acquiring some form of TBI. Approximately 20% of current service members
have experienced some form of TBI. Many recent injuries have come in the form of exposures to blast from
improvised explosive devices. Blast TBI triggers an activation of the immune system, generation of auto-
antibodies, as well as infiltration of circulating immune cells into the central nervous system (CNS). These
mechanisms occur in the brain as well as the retina. However, the individual role of cellular and humoral
immunity causing neuron loss has not been thoroughly dissected. This proposal will define the role of auto-
antibodies and circulating immune cells on the progression of blast-mediated visual loss in order to identify
mechanisms that are amenable to therapy.
The overall goal of this study is to determine which components of the immune response are necessary and
sufficient to cause neuronal dysfunction and loss after blast-mediated TBI.
Our central hypothesis is that blast-mediated traumatic brain injury activates cellular and humoral immune
responses that lead to increased chronic neurodegeneration after TBI.
Understanding how immune cells, autoantibodies, and complement protein affect eyes exposed to blast
represents a critical knowledge gap. Our study should reveal novel therapeutic approaches utilizing drugs
already approved for clinical use that can be immediately translated to benefit Veteran’s health.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10326408
- **Project number:** 5I01RX003389-02
- **Recipient organization:** IOWA CITY VA MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Matthew M. Harper
- **Activity code:** I01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-03-01 → 2025-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10326408

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10326408, Evaluating the interaction of the immune system and inflammation on the progression of blast-mediated  neurodegeneration. (5I01RX003389-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10326408. Licensed CC0.

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