Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) awarded The Johns Hopkins University a $633,378 Project Grant on April 16, 2026, under the Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders program (CFDA 93.853) to investigate blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity and immune dysfunction in patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). The research will compare neuropsychiatric and neuroinflammatory mechanisms between post-SARS-CoV-2 onset ME/CFS patients and pre-pandemic ME/CFS patients, with completion targeted for March 31, 2031. The study will utilize cross-sectional imaging to assess BBB integrity, conduct neuropsychiatric assessments, and perform immunophenotyping across 300 total participants (100 post-SARS-CoV-2 ME/CFS patients, 100 pre-pandemic ME/CFS patients, and 100 control participants) at the Baltimore, Maryland location.

The research addresses the mechanistic understanding of how proinflammatory monocyte trafficking disrupts the BBB and perpetuates neuroinflammation in both cohorts, with potential implications for therapeutic intervention development in ME/CFS and related post-infectious conditions. The project will examine circulating immune markers, BBB endothelial integrity, peripheral blood mononuclear cell subtypes, and glymphatic system function to elucidate pathophysiologic mechanisms driving neurocognitive sequelae in these patient populations.