A Clark County woman has filed a $3.66 million lawsuit against the city of Portland, Multnomah County, and the state of Oregon after she allegedly suffered a traumatic brain injury from driving over a pothole on Southwest Capitol Highway. The lawsuit alleges that the government agencies knew or should have known about the hazardous road condition and failed to take proper action to prevent the plaintiff’s injuries.
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) affect millions of Americans annually, leading to a range of cognitive, behavioral, and physical impairments. Researchers at Gladstone Institutes have uncovered a key molecular mechanism that triggers neurodegeneration after TBI: the protein fibrin. Fibrin activates immune cells, releasing toxins that damage neurons. The team developed a genetic tool to block fibrin’s harmful effects without impairing its blood-clotting abilities. Their findings suggest that targeting fibrin could lead to new therapies for TBI and other neurological diseases.
