In experiments involving a mouse model of ischemic (clot-caused) stroke, Tim Duong, Ph.D., and colleagues recently found that combining the antibiotic minocycline with hydrogen water (regular water plus hydrogen gas, which appears to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties) markedly reduces the size of MRI-defined stroke lesions. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has awarded Dr. Duong a five-year, $2 million grant to use innovative MRI approaches to further evaluate the combined treatment’s effectiveness in treating ischemic stroke.

The research should yield a comprehensive anatomical and physiological profile of brain tissue vulnerable to ischemic stroke and show how the treatment reduces ischemic injury. The findings could lead to improved therapy the acute and chronic phases of ischemic stroke.

Dr. Duong is professor and vice chair for research of radiology at Einstein and Montefiore, professor of physiology & biophysics, and professor in the Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience at Einstein. (1R01NS129936-01)