# Linking TBI secondary injuries to FTLD- and ALS-like neurodegeneration

> **NIH NIH R03** · ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY-TEMPE CAMPUS · 2021 · $157,000

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
 Traumatic brain injury (TBI) initiates primary and secondary damage that may lead to a
significantly increased risk for the development of neurodegenerative disorders such as
frontotemporal lobar dementia (FTLD) and motor neuron diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(ALS). Currently there are no standard treatments or cures for TBIs or associated neurodegenerative
disorders other than symptomatic treatment and supportive therapies. The goal of this project is to
assess and catalogue the extent of FTLD- and ALS-like neurodegenerative effects on cortical
neurons, hindbrain motor and premotor neurons, and spinal cord motor neurons following a TBI. The
overall objective of this project is twofold: first, to provide a thorough analysis of the FTLD- and ALS-
like long-term neurodegenerative effects that will help to alleviate a knowledge gap with specific
cellular information concerning the neurodegenerative pathologies following a TBI; and secondly, as
the basis of a feasibility study for a much broader investigation into treatment therapies designed to
minimize the inherent risk of developing TBI-related neurodegenerative disease later in life. The
specific aims of this study are designed to determine the neurodegenerative effects of secondary
injuries in an animal model of TBI. These effects include the changes in cellular phenotypes and
functions as measured through data derived from immunohistochemical (IHC) and RNA-seq analysis.
IHC analysis will focus on known and clinically relevant specific markers of FTLD- and ALS-like
neurodegeneration including protein translocations and aggregations in the targeted areas (frontal
cortex, hindbrain, cervical spinal cord). RNA-seq analysis will be performed on ipsi- and contralateral
areas of the frontal cortex and cervical spinal cord. Analysis will be performed to detect differentially
expressed genes and alternative spliced transcripts between injured and uninjured hemispheres of a
TBI animal model to tissue collected from uninjured control animals. The data and knowledge
obtained from these specific aims will be used to design preventative therapies to alleviate the risk of
developing future neurodegenerative disease following TBI.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10309060
- **Project number:** 1R03NS122018-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY-TEMPE CAMPUS
- **Principal Investigator:** ROBERT P BOWSER
- **Activity code:** R03 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $157,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-08-15 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10309060

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10309060, Linking TBI secondary injuries to FTLD- and ALS-like neurodegeneration (1R03NS122018-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10309060. Licensed CC0.

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