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Uncovering Circuit Mechanisms Driving Traumatic Coma

Award Number: F32NS146150
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/06/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/05/2028

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Uncovering Circuit Mechanisms Driving Traumatic Coma - PROJECT SUMMARY Disorders of consciousness, chiefly coma, are the most debilitating consequences of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and provide a unique window into the distributed neural computations underlying the core components of consciousness: arousal and awareness. Clinical data shows that midbrain compression following severe TBI can progressively impair consciousness, ultimately resulting in coma. Historically, this compression has been thought to cause loss of consciousness through impairment of the ascending arousal system, critically involving the mesopontine parabrachial nucleus (PB), its midbrain-traversing projections, and postsynaptic targets in the basal forebrain (BF). Our Preliminary Data collected from whole brain activity mapping following the Malik Laboratory’s novel mouse model of reversible traumatic midbrain compression-induced loss of consciousness (the “Coma Clamp”) supports this view, highlighting a marked disengagement of the BF diagonal band nucleus (NDB), a region harboring PB afferents and GABAergic corticopetal efferents capable of modulating arousal and distributed perceptual processes central to consciousness. The studies proposed here will systematically test the contribution of the PB-NDB circuit to the maintenance of consciousness using tools and techniques for monitoring and manipulating activity of this circuit under midbrain compression-induced loss of consciousness using the Coma Clamp model. Aim 1 will systematically test the hypothesis that PB-NDB neuron communication is decreased under compression. To test this prediction, we will employ dual-color 2-photon calcium imaging of PB afferents and (Aim 1.1) all synaptically connected NDB or (Aim 1.2) parvalbumin-expressing NDB neuron (NDBPV) targets in comatose animals during progressive midbrain compression. Aim 2 will systematically test the hypothesis that midbrain compression impairs cortical network activity underlying sensory perception. We will pair in vivo calcium imaging of NDBPV neurons and single-unit electrophysiological recordings of primary somatosensory (SI) fast-spiking neurons central to vibrissa sensory perception (described in Shin & Moore, 2019) during a vibrissa threshold detection task in semiconscious animals through progressive midbrain compression. Aim 3 will systematically test the hypothesis that PB-NDB activation can restore consciousness. To test this, we will employ an interluminescence strategy to selectively activate synaptically connected (Aim 3.1) PB-NDB or (Aim 3.2) PB-NDBPV neurons during midbrain compression while measuring arousal and performance in a vibrissa threshold detection task. These studies may uncover circuit-specific pathogenesis in coma, and offer mechanistic insight into the crucial, complex problem of consciousness.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $76,780 )
2026	2026	RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL	593 EDDY ST	PROVIDENCE	RI	02903	PROVIDENCE	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	1	6/18/2026	NEW	$76,780
2026	2026	RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL	593 EDDY ST	PROVIDENCE	RI	02903	PROVIDENCE	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	001	1	6/18/2026	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $76,780

Grand Total All Awards = $76,780

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Uncovering Circuit Mechanisms Driving Traumatic Coma

Award Number: F32NS146150

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/06/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/05/2028

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