# Assessment of Behavioral Deficits in Minipig Model of Pediatric Concussion

> **NIH NIH F99** · MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $40,099

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading health concern for both children and adults worldwide. Similarities
between pig and human brain anatomy, development, and neuroinflammatory response have brought attention
to the domestic pig as a highly promising model animal for studying age-specific responses to mechanical
trauma. To date, I have quantified baseline behavioral data in healthy Yucatan minipigs. For the duration of the
training period, I will conduct a battery of behavioral tests to identify changes in behavior and physiology in
juvenile pigs following a closed-head impact procedure designed to model pediatric concussion. In the
postdoctoral phase, I plan to develop expertise in the development of novel neurointervention strategies in large
animal models. To facilitate transition to a lab where I will need to utilize state-of-the-art imaging techniques to
validate the efficacy of my treatments, I will use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as an assessment tool to
quantify changes in neural structure and function in brain-injured pigs. I will receive comprehensive training in
MRI data processing from experts in both human and pig neuroradiology. The proposed training plan is
specifically crafted to prepare me, Alesa Netzley, for a fulfilling and distinguished career as a large animal
systems and translational neuroscientist.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10610655
- **Project number:** 1F99NS129171-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Alesa Hughson Netzley
- **Activity code:** F99 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $40,099
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-15 → 2024-09-14

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10610655

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10610655, Assessment of Behavioral Deficits in Minipig Model of Pediatric Concussion (1F99NS129171-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-01 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10610655. Licensed CC0.

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