# Analytical Validation of Tau and P-Tau as acute and subacute prognostic biomarkers for complicated mild TBI

> **NIH NIH U01** · MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · 2023 · $510,932

## Abstract

Consistent with the vision of the Analytical Validation of a Candidate Biomarker for Neurological
Disease PAR, we assembled a multidisciplinary team and propose to conduct analytical validation of two
emerging TBI biomarkers: Tau and phospho-Tau (P-Tau). Although recently FDA approved a pair of markers
(neuronal cell body marker UCH-L1 and astroglia injury marker GFAP) to diagnose cranial CT abnormality in
mild TBI patients, however, to date, there are no qualified and validated biomarkers linked directly to axonal
degenerative axonal injury and after TBI, especially in the acute and subacute phases after TBU. Emerging
literature evidence and our own data point to blood-based Tau/P-Tau levels can fill these unmet biomarker
needs. We propose two types of context of use (COU) for Tau/ P-Tau as prognostic biomarkers for complicated
mild TBI patients at risk for persistent post-concussive symptoms lasting more than 3 months. While Tau/ P-
Tau are promising TBI prognostic biomarkers, there are significant knowledge gaps regarding Tau/P-Tau
biomarkers, as well as their detection assays. In this proposed study, we will (1) create Tau and P-Tau gold
standards and pooled positive/negative controls samples for use in Tau/P-Tau platform testing and
standardization, (2) assess the analytical performance of new assay platforms for Tau/P-Tau at two analytical
sites, (3) establish the baseline blood levels of Tau and P-Tau in normative controls of different adult age
intervals, (4) provide supportive data for acute/subacute Tau and P-Tau levels as blood-based biomarker for the
indicated COU, (5) establish the temporal profile of blood Tau, P-Tau levels in TBI patients of varying severity
and injury types, and lastly (6) assemble Tau/P-Tau TBI biomarker qualification plan for submission to FDA's
Biomarker Qualification Program.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10487403
- **Project number:** 7U01NS111680-03
- **Recipient organization:** MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** GEOFFREY T MANLEY
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $510,932
- **Award type:** 7
- **Project period:** 2020-08-15 → 2026-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10487403

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10487403, Analytical Validation of Tau and P-Tau as acute and subacute prognostic biomarkers for complicated mild TBI (7U01NS111680-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10487403. Licensed CC0.

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