# Development of Contrast Enhanced Functional Ultrasound Imaging to Monitor Induced Neuroplasticity in Chronic Spinal Cord Injury

> **NIH NIH F32** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2022 · $69,874

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Functional ultrasound (fUS) imaging is a relatively new alternative to standard functional neuroimaging
approaches (e.g., fMRI, PET) that utilizes ultrafast plane wave pulsing schemes to achieve improved signal-to-
noise ratio and spatiotemporal resolution (1 msec, 100 µm). However, current fUS approaches isolate blood flow
signal from tissue motion solely on the basis of relative velocity. This results in the exclusion of slow
microcirculatory flows, a critical limitation given the recent implication of capillaries in the direct regulation of
cerebral and spinal cord blood flow. The primary goal of this project is to develop a microcirculation-sensitive
fUS modality by utilizing nonlinear excitation of circulating microbubble contrast agents. Cervical spinal cord
injury (SCI) will be utilized as a model for the development of this new method and subsequent assessment of
its utility. Specifically, intermittent hypoxia (IH), a promising method for the induction of neuroplasticity and
restoration of healthy breathing function in chronic SCI, will be used to induce localized activation and long term
facilitation in the phrenic motor neuron pool. First, contrast-enhanced functional ultrasound (CE-fUS) imaging
conducted in the intact spinal cord will be utilized to optimize transmit parameters (i.e., pulse repetition frequency,
nonlinear pulsing schemes) and post-processing methods (i.e., motion correction, generalized linear modeling).
Spatiotemporal filtering techniques will be utilized to isolate tissue perfusion and larger microvascular flow signals
for independent analysis, heretofore impossible with existing fUS imaging techniques. CE-fUS imaging will then
be applied to characterize the initial degeneration of neurovascular coupling in the perilesional region following
controlled contusion SCI, and subsequent fundamental microvascular changes induced by repeated IH exposure
during the chronic phase of injury. Successful completion of these studies will elucidate the fundamental
microvascular changes that mediate IH-induced neuroplasticity following SCI. Moreover, CE-fUS imaging will
enable further studies of differential hemodynamic response patterns at different levels of the vasculature, and
will serve as a fundamental tool for the assessment of neurovascular pathologies and developmental therapies
in future work.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10384427
- **Project number:** 1F32HD107806-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Jennifer Harmon
- **Activity code:** F32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $69,874
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-03-01 → 2024-02-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10384427

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10384427, Development of Contrast Enhanced Functional Ultrasound Imaging to Monitor Induced Neuroplasticity in Chronic Spinal Cord Injury (1F32HD107806-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10384427. Licensed CC0.

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