“ We believe that these findings have the potential to lead to truly precision therapies targeting neuroinflammation after TBI across the injury spectrum .”
Issue 33.4 FALL 2024
Ruchira M . Jha , MD , MSc , lead researcher , director of neurocritical care research at Barrow Neurological Institute
“ This atlas may ultimately help doctors use tools like biomarkers , multimodality monitoring , genomic profiling and neuroimaging to bring precision-medicine research to a field dominated by a uniform approach ,” Dr . Jha said . “ Our searchable atlas is a foundation for future research to understand cell-specific impacts post-TBI . This is a living atlas in that we are continuing to build upon this with additional samples and variables .”
A TBI happens externally , but within the brain a cascade of internal responses occurs at the molecular level . These responses are important for repair and regeneration of the brain , but they also trigger secondary responses such as seizures , neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration . The atlas will help physicians target TBIs at the molecular level , potentially improving treatment outcomes .
Researchers explored the cell-specific complexity of response to a TBI – including the effect of distance from the impact site and time from injury . The interactive web-based platform has documented several key variables across all these variables that can be explored and customized based on individual preferences .
“ To date , all clinical trials of new therapies for TBI have failed : Despite the highly complex and varied secondary injury response across the spectrum of TBI severity , therapeutic trials thus far have taken a homogeneous approach , testing a therapy across patient subgroups that share clinical characteristics in a given injury severity category ,” said co-senior author Patrick Kochanek , M . D .
“ We believe that these findings have the potential to lead to truly precision therapies targeting neuroinflammation after TBI across the injury spectrum ,” said Kochanek , who also directs the Safar Center for Resuscitation Research at Pitt . “ We also provide the field with a mobile app which represents a leverageable platform for future research and therapy development for TBI and TBI-linked neurodegenerative diseases .” g
“ We believe that these findings have the potential to lead to truly precision therapies targeting neuroinflammation after TBI across the injury spectrum .”
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