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The Neural Effects of Balance Versus Aerobic Training in Individuals with Degenerative Cerebellar Diseases

Award Number: K23NS121518
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/01/2021
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2025

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The Neural Effects of Balance Versus Aerobic Training in Individuals with Degenerative Cerebellar Diseases - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Degenerative cerebellar diseases are a group of disorders that cause severe disability and can be fatal. There are currently no known disease-modifying treatments available for use, and there is a critical need to find treatments that slow disease progression and allow affected individuals to live more functional lives. Balance and aerobic training show promise as treatments for degenerative cerebellar diseases, but the neural effects of both training methods have not been thoroughly investigated. It is crucial to understand how the training impacts the brain, and particularly the cerebellum, in order to determine if one training method is better at slowing disease progression than the other. The goal of this proposal is to compare the neural effects of balance versus aerobic training in individuals with degenerative cerebellar diseases. We hypothesize that aerobic training causes neuroplastic changes within the cerebellum whereas balance training causes improvements for people with cerebellar degeneration by impacting brain structures outside the cerebellum. If our hypothesis is true, aerobic training may have more influence on disease progression than balance training as it directly impacts the cerebellum. To investigate our hypothesis, various neuroimaging techniques will be used, which will allow the candidate to gain invaluable expertise in processing and analyzing brain scans. In AIM 1, we will compare cerebellar volume before and after the participants perform either 6-months of balance or aerobic training. In AIM 2, we will investigate whether neural changes have clinical significance by correlating cerebellar volume changes with clinical measures of ataxia. Finally, for AIM 3, we will use diffusion tensor imaging and resting state fMRI scans to examine how both training methods impact cerebellar microstructure and functional cerebellar connections. We hope that a detailed understanding of how each training method impacts the cerebellum will lead to more targeted training regimens with the goal of slowing disease progression of these devastating diseases. The candidate has a clinical background in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation with an emphasis on movement disorders. He has a PhD in immunology and will be completing a master’s degree in clinical research design and statistical analysis. He is committed to a career in ataxia research focusing on the effects of exercise training on disease progression and plans to use the additional training he receives through this NIH Career Development Award to support his future work in this field. The candidate has assembled a multidisciplinary mentoring team to accomplish three training goals: 1) to learn and master neuroimaging techniques; 2) to become proficient in longitudinal statistical methods; 3) to improve grantsmanship skills to facilitate ongoing research support. In addition, the candidate will receive further training in career development and the responsible conduct of research.


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: 2024 ( Subtotal = $193,536 )
2024	2024	THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK	630 W 168TH ST FL 4	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	4	8/14/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$193,536
														Subtotal = $193,536

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $193,536 )
2023	2023	TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, THE	630 W 168TH ST FL 4	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	3	8/23/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$193,536
														Subtotal = $193,536

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $193,536 )
2022	2022	TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, THE	630 W 168TH ST FL 4	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	001	2	8/19/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$193,536
2022	2021	TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, THE	630 W 168TH ST FL 4	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	1	10/20/2021	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $193,536

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $193,536 )
2021	2021	TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, THE	630 W 168TH ST FL 4	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	001	1	8/23/2021	NEW	$0
2021	2021	TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, THE	630 W 168TH ST FL 4	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	1	8/16/2021	NEW	$193,536
														Subtotal = $193,536

Grand Total All Awards = $774,144

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The Neural Effects of Balance Versus Aerobic Training in Individuals with Degenerative Cerebellar Diseases

Award Number: K23NS121518

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/01/2021

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2025

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