# Mentoring in Patient-Oriented Research focused on Neurological Complications of Sickle Cell Disease

> **NIH NIH K24** · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · 2021 · $108,544

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a rare disease in the United States, affecting primarily African-Americans, who are
often poor, and without a strong health advocacy presence. Neurological complications of the disease are
critically important. Our team has shown that silent cerebral infarcts are progressive; approximately 50% of
adults with SCA will have silent cerebral infarcts and 10% will have an overt stroke by age 30. My patient-
oriented research (POR) program focuses on elucidating the mechanisms of brain injury and assessing infarct
risk in children and adults with SCA. Herein, I propose to become an outstanding patient-oriented research
mentor to a diverse group of undergraduate/graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty trainees
from multiple disciplines and continue to extend my research to better understand the pathogenesis and
burden of cerebral infarcts in adult SCA. Based on strong preliminary data from our research team in adults
and children with SCA, my aims include: 1) to determine in a multicenter collaborative group, the incidence of
new silent infarcts and overt strokes in adults (≥18 years of age) with SCA, with and without infarcts at
baseline; 2) to apply advanced brain imaging methods for stroke risk stratification in adults with SCA across
multiple sites. Newer non-invasive MRI methods such as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) techniques assessing
white matter microstructure and methods that assess cerebral hemodynamics will identify areas of subtle brain
injury and hemodynamic signatures that may predict increased stroke risk. These imaging methods could then
be applied to future clinical trials focused on applying aggressive stroke prevention strategies for adults with
SCA at highest risk of progressive infarcts. I have involved mentees in each of my aims, developed a formal
plan to train junior investigators in patient-oriented research, and created a formal senior mentoring advisory
committee. I plan to learn new neuroimaging skills for myself and use resources available from my research
program and the Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research to support my mentees. I have a
strong record of funded patient-oriented research and training mentees but require the protected time and
further education to become the inspiring mentor I envision. Mentoring the next generation of patient-oriented
researchers is important for sustaining research progress and creating a legacy of investigators in the
neurological complications of SCA, particularly as the patient lifespan increase. The combination of a
multidisciplinary research team for mentees to learn from, an outstanding research and institutional
environment, and a strong mentoring plan are key to the success of this proposal.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10224319
- **Project number:** 5K24HL147017-03
- **Recipient organization:** VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Lori Chaffin Jordan
- **Activity code:** K24 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $108,544
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-08-15 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10224319

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10224319, Mentoring in Patient-Oriented Research focused on Neurological Complications of Sickle Cell Disease (5K24HL147017-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10224319. Licensed CC0.

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