Acquired Brain Injuries

Elham Rostami in a surgical gown in an operating theatre.

We conduct research on acquired brain injury. Acquired brain injury is an injury that is not congenital or has occurred during early childhood. It usually occurs at one time, for example as a result of external violence or stroke.

Description of our research

Our research team primarily focuses on traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Our overall aim is to understand why patients with similar TBIs recover differently and to determine the roles that genetic and host-specific factors play in these recovery processes.

We study the pathophysiological changes that occur following TBI, with a special interest in understanding the complex interactions between various cellular and molecular mechanisms that contribute to brain damage and recovery. Utilizing big data collected in neurointensive care, including cerebral microdialysis, our aim is to improve diagnostic tools and develop more effective therapeutic strategies to enhance recovery from brain injuries. Further, we hope to gain insights into secondary injury mechanisms that exacerbate the initial damage and to identify potential targets for interventions that could mitigate these effects.

We address the limitations of current TBI treatments, which typically follow a one-size-fits-all approach and often fail to provide pharmacological solutions. By using personalized treatment strategies, we aim to develop a more nuanced classification of TBI and to understand various factors influencing recovery. This involves using high-quality linkage registers to study the impact of host-specific factors, analyzing extensive genetic data, and developing AI-driven algorithms for precise outcome prediction.

Additionally, we employ both in vitro and in vivo experimental TBI models using transgenic mice to understand the underlying pathology of TBI, explore genetic impacts, and test potential therapeutic treatments. Our goal is to improve the translation of animal study findings to human trials and to tailor interventions more accurately to individual patient needs.

Our group is also involved in studies on pituitary tumors as well as CSF disorders. The principal investigator initiated the COVID-19-neuro study, which investigated the neurological complications following COVID-19 infection.

Read the researcher profile with Elham

Elham Rostami wants to use AI to alleviate brain damage.

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