Molecular basis of blood-brain barrier breach in lupus

The University of Houston was awarded a $749,981 Project Grant from the Defense Health Agency under the Military Medical Research and Development federal grant program (CFDA 12.420). The grant will fund research into the molecular basis of blood-brain barrier breach in lupus from May 1, 2023 through April 30, 2026.

As part of the Military Medical Research and Development program's goals of transforming health care for service members and investigating medical solutions for the battlefield, this grant will support the University's work investigating the causes of blood-brain barrier damage in systemic lupus erythematosus. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that allow immune cells and inflammatory molecules into the brain in lupus patients could help develop new diagnostic and treatment approaches for this condition. The University, as a Hispanic Serving Institution, will leverage its expertise in biomedical research to deliver impactful findings over the three-year period of performance in Houston, Texas.