Saturday, July 5, 2025 7/5/2025

Development of MRI microvascular biomarkers in cognitive impairment and dementia

Award Number: UH2NS100588
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/30/2016
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2018

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Development of MRI microvascular biomarkers in cognitive impairment and dementia - Project Summary/Abstract: Small vessel cerebrovascular disease is a major risk factor in Alzheimer’s disease. However, quantitative biomarkers that are suitable for use as endpoints in clinical trials for these conditions are still lacking. The goals of the present project are to 1) in the UH2 phase, evaluate and identify MRI-based microvascular biomarkers that are diagnostic and predictive, with a particular focus on a novel marker referred to as cerebrovascular reactivity; 2) in the UH3 phase, work with the Coordinating Center and other projects in the consortium to further evaluate the most promising biomarker candidates in a multi-site setting. Conventional anatomic imaging (e.g. T2-FLAIR) can identify white matter hyperintensities that represent the consequence of small vessel damage. In this project, we will emphasize several newer techniques that probe the potential physiological driving force of small vessel cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID). Specifically, we will focus on a marker indexing the dynamic coupling capacity of the neurovascular unit, referred to here as cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR). Our previously studies on CVR have revealed that: 1) CVR is three times as sensitive to age as resting perfusion. 2) CVR is diminished in patients with AD dementia. 3) Decline in processing speed (over four years) is significantly associated with CVR decline (over four years). 4) CVR of the brain is strongly correlated with structural lesions as seen on T2-FLAIR. Therefore, the present project will emphasize the development of CVR MRI as a small vessel imaging biomarker, with additional consideration of several other microvascular parameters including microbleeds count and cerebral blood flow (CBF). These small vessel measures (vascular imaging markers) will be combined into a composite index based on their contributions to cognitive impairment, which will form a composite imaging biomarker for diagnosis, prediction, and target engagement of VCID. Our Specific Aims in the UH2 phase are: 1) Examine the association between cognitive function and candidate vascular imaging markers in a group of elderly individuals with mixed vascular and Alzheimer’s pathology; 2) Conduct technical assessment of the vascular imaging methods to show that they are multi-site ready in terms of applicability and reproducibility; 3) Work with Coordinating Center and other Development Projects to establish the consortium in preparation for the UH3 phase. Quantifiable milestones have been defined for these aims and for the readiness of the project to enter the UH3 phase, in which the specific aim is to perform collaborative studies as part of the small vessel biomarker consortium to further evaluate and develop the most promising biomarker candidates. Impact: Upon the completion of this project, we will have developed a small vessel imaging biomarker that is ready for large scale multi-site clinical validation studies.


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: 2020 ( Subtotal = -$34,883 )
2020	2017	JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, THE	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	2	12/31/2019	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$34,883
														Subtotal = -$34,883

Issue Date FY: 2019 ( Subtotal = -$554,171 )
2019	2018	JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, THE	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Research	001	2	12/12/2018	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	-$43,415
2019	2018	JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, THE	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Research	002	2	12/12/2018	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	-$21,585
2019	2017	JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, THE	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	2	12/12/2018	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$489,171
														Subtotal = -$554,171

Issue Date FY: 2018 ( Subtotal = $65,000 )
2018	2018	JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, THE	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Research	001	2	1/17/2018	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$43,415
2018	2018	JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, THE	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Research	000	2	12/27/2017	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$21,585
														Subtotal = $65,000

Issue Date FY: 2017 ( Subtotal = $1,082,071 )
2017	2017	JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, THE	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	001	2	7/28/2017	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$1,082,071
2017	2016	JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, THE	1101 E 33RD ST STE B001	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	1	10/27/2016	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $1,082,071

Issue Date FY: 2016 ( Subtotal = $1,129,387 )
2016	2016	JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY	1101 E 33RD STREET, STE-C-210	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	1	9/22/2016	NEW	$1,129,387
														Subtotal = $1,129,387

Grand Total All Awards = $1,687,404

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Development of MRI microvascular biomarkers in cognitive impairment and dementia

Award Number: UH2NS100588

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/30/2016

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2018

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer