# Investigating cerebrovascular dysfunction and cerebral atrophy in severe traumatic brain injury

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA · 2023 · $379,171

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Cerebral atrophy is commonly encountered in penetrating severe Traumatic Brain Injury (sTBI) survivors. Brain infiltration
of blood-borne cytotoxic proteins and immune cells due to cerebrovascular dysfunction is an important factor contributing
to progressive cerebral atrophy and onset of Alzheimer’s Disease dementia in sTBI patients. However, there have been no
efforts to develop interventional therapies that can prevent cerebrovascular dysfunction and infiltration of peripheral
immune cells into the brain in penetrating sTBI. Our central hypothesis is that acutely implanted engineered Chondroitin
Sulfate (eCS) 3D matrices will accelerate cerebrovascular repair and prevent cerebral atrophy and loss of function in sTBI
rats. We propose to test our hypothesis using a novel preclinical rat model of penetrating sTBI in the following two specific
aims: Aim-1. Characterize cerebrovascular permeability and immune cell composition in sTBI. Aim-2. Determine the
effectiveness of eCS matrix implants in mediating cerebrovascular repair and functional recovery. The proposed studies are
expected to provide novel insight into the role of cerebrovascular dysfunction in progressive neurodegeneration and cerebral
atrophy in sTBI. Collectively, these studies will inform the development of tissue engineered brain implants that can
accelerate cerebrovascular repair and prevent brain volume loss and functional deficits in sTBI patients.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10742569
- **Project number:** 1R21NS130468-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Lohitash Karumbaiah
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $379,171
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2023-09-19 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10742569

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10742569, Investigating cerebrovascular dysfunction and cerebral atrophy in severe traumatic brain injury (1R21NS130468-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10742569. Licensed CC0.

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