# NIBA-TBI:  Neuro-Imaging and biofluid-based Biomarker Assessments as translational pathophysiological outcome measures in TBI

> **NIH NIH UH3** · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · 2020 · $396,389

## Abstract

Currently, preclinical TBI research and testing of experimental therapeutic in animal models of TBI 
models, the most commonly used outcome endpoints are lesion volume/size, neuronal cell preservation 
and behavioral functional outcome measures (such as Morris water maze, rotarod). While these 
measures are clearly useful – they lack the ability to inform on the underlying distinct 
pathophysiological mechanisms relevant in human TBI. These factors might have contributed to the 
lack of translational success for new TBI therapeutics from animal models efficacy to clinical 
trial efficacy. Consistent with the vision of the Translational Outcomes Project in Neurotrauma 
(TOP- NT) (UG3/UH3) RFA, here we carefully assembled a multidisciplinary team and proposed to 
evaluate two complementary pathological mechanism-based TBI outcome measures – (i) biofluid 
biomarker assessment, and (ii) MRI-neuroimaging biomarker assessment. These assessments are chosen 
because they are both highly quantitative and can readily transition into clinical TBI studies and 
future therapeutic trials. Our central hypothesis is as follows: In preclinical multi-site 
multi-TBI animal model setting, biofluid-based biomarker and quantitative MRI-based neuroimaging 
biomarker assessment can be developed into useful translational outcome measures that can help 
address a range of clinical TBI pathological mechanistic subphenotypes including axonal injury, 
contusion/tissue necrosis, loss of synaptic continuity, white matter injury, microvascular 
injury/brain hemorrhage and neuroinflammation. We have also put together a “Clinical TBI 
Translational Advisory” panel to assist us with translating our findings into clinical studies.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10242480
- **Project number:** 4UH3NS106938-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
- **Principal Investigator:** KEVIN Ka Wang WANG
- **Activity code:** UH3 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $396,389
- **Award type:** 4N
- **Project period:** 2018-04-15 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10242480

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10242480, NIBA-TBI:  Neuro-Imaging and biofluid-based Biomarker Assessments as translational pathophysiological outcome measures in TBI (4UH3NS106938-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10242480. Licensed CC0.

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