Dissecting microvascular underpinnings of injury-induced alterations in functional cerebral blood flow

该提案将致力于确定创伤性脑损伤（TBI）的非侵入性标志物。该提案制定了一项计划，以验证在受伤后数周内持续存在的轻度（m）TBI的定量生物标志物。这项拟议中的研究将与纽约医学院、科罗拉多大学、宾夕法尼亚大学和FDA的教师和博士后合作。该建议包括一个精心设计的指导计划，由主要调查员实施。该计划包括通过个人发展计划跟踪进展;非正式讨论，以评估对指导计划的满意度，并跟踪职业目标的进展。主要研究者将评估弥散相关光谱作为监测脑血流实时变化的无创光学方法，以便在神经损伤或疾病的情况下更好地通知医疗干预。该项目将提供关于可以使用低分辨率扩散相关光谱技术进行查询的变化类型的信息。与高分辨率技术的直接比较将为DCS的灵敏度和特异性提供必要的信息。在监测期间使用刺激变化将提供关于可以评估的血管群的必要细节类型。脑血流量可用于在神经损伤或疾病的情况下提供医疗干预信息。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This proposal will work on identifying non-invasive markers for traumatic brain injury (TBI). The proposal lays out a plan to verify quantitative biomarkers for mild (m)TBI that persist in the weeks following an injury. The proposed research will partner with faculty and postdocs at the New York Medical College, the University of Colorado, the University of Pennsylvania, and the FDA. The proposal includes a well-designed mentoring plan to be implemented by the principal investigator. The plan includes tracking progress through Individual Development Plans; informal discussions to assess satisfaction with the mentoring program' and tracking progress toward career goals. The principal investigator will evaluate diffuse correlation spectroscopy as a noninvasive optical method for monitoring real-time changes in cerebral blood flow, in order to better inform medical interventions in the event of neurological injury or disease. This project will provide information on the types of changes that can be interrogated using the low-resolution diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS) technique. Direct comparison to a high resolution technique will provide necessary information on sensitivity and specificity for DCS. The use of stimulated changes during monitoring will provide the types of necessary detail on the populations of blood vessels that can be assessed. Cerebral blood flow can be used to inform medical interventions in cases of neurological injury or disease.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.