Neuroinflammation Biomarkers After Brain Injury: Translating Molecular Signals into Personalized Rehabilitation

Neuroinflammation is a key secondary response following brain injury, shaping tissue damage, repair, and long-term functional outcomes through microglia- and astroglia-mediated neurodegeneration, neuroplasticity, and repair mechanisms. However, clinical translation to support objective diagnosis, improve clinicopathological correlation, and refine prognosis remains limited because (i) biomarker studies vary widely in sampling time, assays, and outcomes, and (ii) links between inflammatory signatures, neuroplasticity, and rehabilitation response are often indirect. This Research Topic will focus on brain injury as a high-impact condition in which rehabilitation is central and where inflammation-informed stratification could improve care.The Research Topic aims to advance a clinically actionable framework for inflammatory biomarkers measured after brain injury and how they can be integrated with neuropathological assessment and clinically meaningful endpoints, emphasizing specific use-cases: (1) early detection/diagnostic following suspected brain injury (including mild presentations), (2) imaging triage support and stratification of injury severity and risk of adverse outcomes, (3) prediction and monitoring of recovery trajectories, and (4) informing individualized rehabilitation planning and follow-up. We particularly encourage work that evaluates biomarkers as panels, integrates biological/molecular measures with standardized clinical outcomes and rehabilitation endpoints, and that strengthens clinico-pathological correlations, including integration of biomarker profiles with neuroimaging, neuropathology, and forensic context (where relevant). We also encourage methodological and protocol-driven submissions that enhance reproducibility across sites, including harmonized sampling windows, standardized assay reporting, and consistent outcome measures. Digital health and AI approaches are welcomed where they clearly enhance prediction, remote monitoring, or outcome measurement in real-world rehabilitation pathways.To gather further insights into neuroinflammation biomarkers after brain injury, we welcome submissions across a diverse range of manuscript types supported by the journal—including Original Research, Brief Research Reports, Perspectives, Protocols, Mini-Reviews, and more—exploring, but not limited to, the following themes:- Blood-based inflammatory markers after mTBI/TBI and stroke: time course from acute phase to chronic recovery- Post-injury inflammatory profiles associated with longer-term neurodegenerative risk or persistent neurobehavioral symptoms- Specific clinical decision points: diagnosis support, imaging triage, prognosis, and rehab stratification- Biomarker panels and multimodal models (biomarkers + imaging + clinical scales + digital outcomes)- Standardization: sampling windows, assay methods, reporting guidelines, and harmonized outcome sets- AI tools for prediction and monitoring when validated against meaningful clinical/functional endpoints- Neuroinflammation as a modifier of neuroplasticity and rehabilitation responsiveness- Neuroinflammatory players in brain injury outcomes- Brain injury, neuroprotection, and rehabilitation outcomes- Novel pharmacological interventions targeting acute-to-chronic neuroinflammation after brain injury, alongside rehabilitative approaches to promote recovery (e.g., non-invasive brain stimulation, robotics, virtual reality, telehealth)- Rehabilitation interventions studied alongside inflammation outcomes (dose, timing, responder/non-responder analyses)- Remote monitoring (wearables/tele-rehab) as outcome capture linked to inflammatory biological signaturesArticles accepted after peer review will be published and appear online as soon as approved for publication.Sign up now to participate in this exciting Research Topic. Topic editors: Alessio Ardizzone, Rocco Salvatore Calabrò, Ngan Pan Bennett Au, Carl Froilan De Guzman Leochico Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/74308/neuroinflammation-biomarkers-after-brain-injury-translating-molecular-signals-into-personalized-rehabilitation