2025 Safadi Pilot Grant Recipients

Sean Polster, MD and Orlando DeLeon, PhD

In collaboration with the Departments of Neurology (Neuro-Critical Care), Medicine (Gastroenterology), and The Duchossois Family Institute

“The Role of the Gut Microbiome in Traumatic Brain Injury and Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity”

The brain-gut-axis has emerged as a powerful modulator of the neurovascular unit and the blood-brain barrier, with preliminary data suggesting it as a possible point of modification influencing outcomes in traumatic brain injury. Our study seeks to characterize microbiome and metabolic alterations in traumatic brain injury, to identify potential biomarkers and novel therapeutic strategies.