Thursday, January 1, 2026 1/1/2026

Microstructure and connectivity modeling from the cortex to the spinal cord in Multiple Sclerosis

Award Number: K01EB032898
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE Of BIOMEDICAL IMAGING & BIOENGINEERING
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 06/01/2022
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 02/28/2027

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Microstructure and connectivity modeling from the cortex to the spinal cord in Multiple Sclerosis - Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) enables the ability to probe both tissue microstructure and structural connectivity of the central nervous system. However, there are no validated methods to model and interrogate the pathways that connect the brain and spinal cord, which inhibits our ability to fully characterize and understand the complete damage that may occur in neurological disorders. For example, disease progression in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is known to stem from axonal damage in both the brain and spinal cord, yet, coordinated medical image analysis of both structures simultaneously has not been shown. Thus, the overall goal of the proposed research is to develop and optimize simultaneous tissue microstructural mapping of the brain and spinal cord for clinical assessment of MS using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), specifically interrogating the microstructure and connectivity of motor pathways of the central nervous system. The critical challenges to this goal are (1) quantifying tissue microstructure of the brain and spinal cord in unison has not been performed, (2) clinical MRI lacks specificity for microstructural tissue integrity, and (3) there are few methods available that allow mapping of MS lesions and pathological abnormalities in relation to critical fiber pathways. To address this, in Aim 1 we will develop a cohesive acquisition and image processing pipeline, minimizing artifacts and maximizing reproducibility, in order to facilitate a unified analysis of the central nervous system. In Aim 2, we will utilize diffusion MRI modeling and fiber tractography to characterize tissue microstructure and connectivity from the cortex to the spinal cord. Modeling will enable quantification of highly specific pathophysiological indices of edema, axonal swelling, demyelination, and axonal loss, whereas tractography will facilitate feature localization to specific white matter pathways and along specific pathways. Finally, evaluate microstructure and connectivity of the motor pathways to interrogate pathology in MS, quantifying radiological biomarkers over space and time that may contribute to impairment in this disease. The overall impact of this proposal will be quantitative biomarkers for disease burden that may improve the value of imaging the brain and spinal cord together as it relates to understanding pathology in vivo.


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 = $0 )
2026	2025	VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER	1161 21ST AVE S STE D3300 MCN	NASHVILLE	TN	37232	DAVIDSON	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	000	4	12/1/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $157,404 )
2025	2025	VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER	1161 21ST AVE S STE D3300 MCN	NASHVILLE	TN	37232	DAVIDSON	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	000	4	4/11/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$157,404
														Subtotal = $157,404

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $157,404 )
2024	2024	VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER	1161 21ST AVE S STE D3300 MCN	NASHVILLE	TN	37232	DAVIDSON	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	000	3	2/29/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$157,404
														Subtotal = $157,404

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $157,404 )
2023	2023	VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER	1161 21ST AVE S STE D3300 MCN	NASHVILLE	TN	37232	DAVIDSON	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	000	2	2/17/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$157,404
														Subtotal = $157,404

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $157,836 )
2022	2022	VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER	1161 21ST AVE S STE D3300 MCN	NASHVILLE	TN	37232	DAVIDSON	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	000	1	5/27/2022	NEW	$157,836
														Subtotal = $157,836

Grand Total All Awards = $630,048

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Microstructure and connectivity modeling from the cortex to the spinal cord in Multiple Sclerosis

Award Number: K01EB032898

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE Of BIOMEDICAL IMAGING & BIOENGINEERING

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 06/01/2022

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 02/28/2027

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer