Blackburn, Rui earn Brain Aneurysm Foundation Grants
The Brain Aneurysm Foundation has announced Sprios Blackburn, MD, associate professor, and Yanning Rui, PhD, assistant professor, in the Department of Neurosurgery as recipients of the foundation’s 2024 research grants.
The Brain Aneurysm Foundation is the leading advocacy organization supporting education, research, and policy to transform the treatment of brain aneurysms. The grantees include 15 unique initiatives from researchers across the United States, which include projects that use artificial intelligence to predict the likelihood of aneurysm formation, next-generation imaging to better detect and identify aneurysms, research on the potential use of embedded sensors and blood tests to predict ruptures, and projects focused on delivering better patient outcomes following a rupture.
The researchers were formally recognized at the BAF’s 18th Annual Research Grant Symposium, on Sept. 12 in Boston. Awards of up to $50,000 were provided to support each initiative.
“I am very encouraged by the continued focus of our recipients on prevention and the use of tools such as AI and machine learning, as well as advanced imaging and biomarkers, to one day predict who is at increased risk of rupture, so physicians can intervene before patients are impacted,” said Christopher Ogilvy, MD, director of Endovascular and Operative Neurovascular Surgery at the Brain Aneurysm Institute at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and a found of the BAF. “Advances in device technology have transformed how we can address aneurysms once detected, but ultimately it is preventing ruptures that remains our paramount objective and where we need to focus our investment in innovation.”
Blackburn’s research focuses on subarachnoid hemorrhage and the lasting effects it has on survivors, such as cerebrovascular deficits like large-arterial vasospasm, impaired microcirculation, thrombosis, and blood-brain barrier disruption, which all lead to poor cognitive outcomes. The study will explore the underlying mechanisms driving SAH-related deficits while focusing on cerebrovascular injury. The team will investigate the role of the Wnt signaling pathway, particularly Wnt7a, which has been identified as a promising candidate for repairing blood-brain barrier damage and reducing vascular injury.
“Through the Brain Aneurysm Foundation Grant, we aim to address therapeutic targets to improve survival outcomes and life expectancy for SAH survivors by targeting the Wnt signaling pathway,” Blackburn said. “Our ultimate goal is to provide novel strategies to reduce the burden of this devastating condition. This type of funding is instrumental in establishing preliminary data by supporting the research staff to make these experiments happen.”
Rui’s lab focuses on understanding the role of autophagy in intracranial aneurysms, which are dangerous bulges in brain arteries that can cause severe health risks if they rupture. Autophagy is a process that removes or recycles cellular components and can break down focal adhesions, which anchor cells to the extra cellular matrix. The Rui lab named this process “FA-phagy,” meaning the selected autophagy-mediated focal adhesions turnover.
The lab discovered that blocking the cargo receptor protein involved in FA-phagy reduces the incidence of aneurysm foundation, and they also identified a kinase called TBK1, which activates the cargo receptor and is upregulated in aneurysm samples. They found that inhibiting TBK1 prevents FA-phagy, and based on the findings were able to propose that TBK1 plays a key role in promoting intracranial aneurysm development.
“Receiving this award is a truly great honor,” Rui said. “It not only acknowledges the work we’ve done to uncover the role of autophagy in intracranial aneurysms but also brings us one step closer to the potential of finding novel therapeutic approaches.
“The Brain Aneurysm Foundation connects survivors, patient families, doctors, and scientists together to fight for the same cause. It added a profound sense of purpose to my work, and this reinforced to me that what we’re doing is not just scientific, but a heartfelt team effort to make a real difference.”
About the Brain Aneurysm Foundation
Based in Hanover, Mass., the Brain Aneurysm Foundation’s mission is to provide information about and raise awareness of the symptoms and risk factors of brain aneurysm to prevent ruptures and subsequent death and disability; work with medical communities to provide support networks for patients and families; and advance research to improve patients’ outcomes and save lives.