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Quantum Grant Summary

Engineering Brain Microenvironments to Promote Stroke Recovery
Grant Number - 1P20B007076

Principal Investigator
Karen K. Hirschi, Ph.D.
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, TX

A stroke occurs when compromised blood flow to the brain results in the death of neurons. Individuals who have had a stroke may experience partial paralysis or problems with awareness, attention, learning, judgment, memory or speech. Post-stroke rehabilitation can help stroke victims overcome some of these disabilities, but does not promote regeneration of the underlying damaged brain tissue. Injection of naked neural stem cells can stimulate some repair, but is generally inefficient.

With support from multiple corporate partners, an international team of researchers from Baylor College of Medicine, Rice University, the National Institute of Medical Research in London, King's College of London, and Edinburgh University, is integrating cutting-edge imaging and engineering techniques to map and regenerate the stem cell niche of the brain regions that promote generation of new neurons. The team has already discovered that the niche contains neural precursors in intimate association with capillaries that provide (at a minimum) critical nutrition and communication. The ultimate goal is to bioengineer an ex vivo system mimicking these niches. It is hoped that these neurovascular units can eventually be used to replace and/or drive repair of stroke-damaged tissue.

Press Release
October 5, 2006: NIBIB Awards First Quantum Grant - Baylor College of Medicine Receives $2.9 Million Three-Year Grant

Abstract

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