# The role of chorioamnionitis-induced perinatal alterations of Heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1) pathway on neuroinflammation and neonatal white matter injury

> **NIH NIH K08** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $171,720

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT:
 The proposal in this application outlines a five-year training program for the development of a career as a
physician-scientist in neonatal neuroimmunology. Candidate, Dr. Maide Ozen, is an Early Stage Investigator and
an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. The proposed research
will be carried out under the primary mentorship of Dr. Lauren L. Jantzie, PhD, an expert leader in translational
investigations in perinatal brain injury. Candidate’ s co-mentors are Dr. Shenandoah Robinson, M.D. an expert
in oligodendrocyte biology and Dr. Frances J. Northington, M.D. an esteemed Neonatologist and a leader in cell
death pathways in the brain. Specific training objectives of this K08 proposal are: develop Dr. Ozen’s scientific
and professional skills in 1) advanced neuroimmunology and neuroscience techniques, 2) gene-protein
interactions specific to Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) to lay the foundation for a future R01 application.
Neuroscience research at JHU is exceptionally strong. Dr. Ozen and her mentoring committee have developed
a focused approach to achieve these objectives. The experiential research environment, intellectual guidance
and carefully selected didactic courses, each matched to a specific aim in this proposal, will ensure rigorous
training in neuroimmunology for achieving independence.
 White matter injury (WMI) is the most common form of brain injury in preterm neonates. Key focus of
candidates proposed project is interrogating HO-1 pathway, for the first time, in perinatal WMI. HO-1 is an anti-
inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and cytoprotective enzyme with essential roles in immune regulation and is
expressed in mononuclear cells, microglia and oligodendrocytes. The candidate is the first to show that
chorioamnionitis-induced perinatal alterations of HO-1 pathway in the developing rat brain correlate with
neuroinflammation. Therefore, utilizing a validated CHORIO model of Cerebral Palsy, the candidate will first
determine how CHORIO alters HO-1 pathway in WMI; second, determine if intracellular HO-1 expression in
peripheral mononuclear cells and brain microglia differentially contribute to WMI in CHORIO; third, determine if
modulation of HO-1 pathway will protect from WMI in CHORIO. Completion of the targeted career development
program and research proposed in this proposal will allow the candidate to learn new technical skills and gain
neuroscience expertise to excel as a physician-scientist in neuroimmunology and advance the field of HO-1
biology to perinatal brain injury. Rigorous inquiry in regulation of HO-1 pathway in CHORIO could provide
discovery of novel biomarkers and targeted therapeutic strategies for perinatal immune-mediated WMI.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10524936
- **Project number:** 1K08HD107166-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Maide Ozen
- **Activity code:** K08 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $171,720
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-15 → 2027-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10524936

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10524936, The role of chorioamnionitis-induced perinatal alterations of Heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1) pathway on neuroinflammation and neonatal white matter injury (1K08HD107166-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10524936. Licensed CC0.

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