Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) awarded a $231,264 Project Grant to The Washington University, Office of Sponsored Research Services, effective April 8, 2026, through March 31, 2031, under the Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders program (CFDA 93.853). The grant supports translational research to identify and validate cerebroprotective drug targets in human stroke patients by analyzing transcriptomic signatures and molecular markers in blood samples collected during endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) procedures. The research leverages The Washington University's high EVT volume at Barnes-Jewish Hospital to collect and analyze paired periprocedural arterial blood samples—one from the femoral artery prior to thrombus removal and one from distal to the occluded cerebral vessel—to characterize the cellular and molecular milieu specific to ischemic tissue and identify clinically relevant therapeutic targets distinct from peripheral circulation.

This research addresses a critical gap in acute ischemic stroke management by moving beyond blood flow restoration to understand downstream molecular injury mechanisms. Despite the success of EVT in treating large vessel occlusion, approximately 54% of patients experience severe disability or death, yet over 1,000 potential drug targets identified in preclinical models have failed to translate to clinical benefit. The project aims to bridge the translational research gap by obtaining human-specific biological samples during active ischemia, with feasibility demonstrated through pilot studies conducted during the investigator's prior fellowship training at the University of Cincinnati.