# Microvascular Dysfunction in Cerebral Small Vessel Disease and Stroke

> **NIH NIH K23** · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · 2021 · $197,640

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Dr. Mark Etherton is a Vascular Neurologist at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) whose goal is to become
an independent, clinical research scientist with expertise in neuroimaging of cerebral small vessel disease and
ischemic stroke. The research aims of this proposal are three-fold: (1) to elucidate the relationship between
white matter microvascular function and ischemic tissue outcomes; (2) to advance knowledge on how chronic
microvascular dysfunction contributes to white matter structural injury and ischemic stroke outcomes; and (3) to
determine the relationship between early plasma and neuroimaging surrogates of microvascular function in small
vessel disease-mediated ischemic stroke. The proposed study capitalizes on the clinical research environment
of the MGH Stroke Research Center and two unique acute ischemic stroke databases with Dynamic
Susceptibility Contrast MRI. The current proposal will analyze these two prospectively enrolled acute ischemic
stroke cohorts in combination with a prospective, longitudinal study coupling functional neuroimaging with
plasma biomarker analysis. Successful completion of this research study will advance knowledge on how white
matter microvascular dysfunction contributes to infarct growth and poor functional outcomes after stroke. This
research will yield important pathophysiological insights regarding the complex interrelations of microvascular
dysfunction and cerebral small vessel disease, which may contribute to improved stroke prevention, risk
stratification, and individualized therapies to improve post-stroke outcomes in patients with small vessel disease.
This application proposes a focused training plan with specific measures of proficiency that extends Dr.
Etherton’s prior training and research activities in ischemic stroke and diffusion tensor imaging analysis of global
white matter integrity by providing necessary new and formal training in (1) neuroimaging of microvascular
function; (2) fundamentals of blood-brain barrier biology; and (3) experimental design/statistical analysis.
Training will involve individual and research team meetings with an interdisciplinary network of world-renowned
mentors and collaborators; formal didactics in neuroimaging, blood-brain barrier biology, clinical trial design,
statistical analysis, and responsible conduct of research; educational seminars; and formal neuroimaging training
activities. His training plan leverages the resources of world-class environments at MGH, the Martinos Center
for Biomedical Imaging, and the Harvard School of Public Health. The mentorship of primary mentor Dr. Natalia
Rost, co-mentors Drs. Ona Wu, Cenk Ayata, and Steven Greenberg, along with collaborators Drs. Bruce Rosen,
Hanzhang Lu, and Lori Chibnik will ensure Dr. Etherton achieves his training plan goals and milestones. The
integrated research and training plans outlined in this application will significantly advance Dr. Etherton’s
research career and p...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10301254
- **Project number:** 1K23NS119575-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** MARK ETHERTON
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $197,640
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-07-01 → 2026-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10301254

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10301254, Microvascular Dysfunction in Cerebral Small Vessel Disease and Stroke (1K23NS119575-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10301254. Licensed CC0.

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