# Towards elucidating PTSD pathogenesis with ultra-portable and low-cost neuroimaging

> **NIH NIH K99** · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $126,656

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The long-term career goal of the K99/R00 applicant, Dr. Stephanie Balters, is to continue her career transition
from engineering and functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) neuroimaging into the clinical neuroscience
of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Specifically, her aim is to develop fNIRS neuroimaging methods that
will advance the science of PTSD in addressing questions about brain mechanisms underlying this complex
disorder, with the goal of improving diagnosis and treatment of PTSD (i.e., Precision Medicine). Through her
Ph.D. and postdoctoral training, Dr. Balters has acquired fundamental knowledge in the psychophysiology and
neuroscience of acute and chronic stress; she has advanced the measurement with various psychophysiological
sensors from the laboratory into naturalistic environments (e.g., salivary cortisol, heart rate variability, skin
conductance); she has built novel unobtrusive stress sensors (e.g., steering wheel stress sensor) and subtle
interventions (e.g., Precision Health breathing intervention); has gathered considerable experience in applying
fNIRS neuroimaging within naturalistic environments; and has analyzed existing fNIRS-PTSD datasets.
However, she has not yet conducted an fNIRS study focused on a clinical PTSD population. To facilitate her
career transition to a research faculty position and conduct reliable and safe PTSD neuroimaging research
independently (yet in close collaboration with her licensed clinical colleagues), she further requires essential
research skills and career preparation. Specifically, Dr. Balters will acquire training in 1) the clinical presentation
and diagnosis of PTSD; 2) concurrent fNIRS-fMRI; 3) machine learning algorithms, with focus on Gaussian
Models; and 4) skills for independence. Her short-term goal is to acquire the critical didactic and “hands-on”
training (1-4) during the K99 period, and to apply these new skills in the R00 period independently. The
overarching objective of the proposed K99/R00 research is to develop novel brain imaging methods that enable
the assessment of PTSD brain biomarkers in an affordable, portable, and repeated manner. The central
hypothesis is that aberrant brain function related to PTSD can be measured with fNIRS. Three specific aims will
be addressed: (1) derive cortical biomarkers of PTSD with fNIRS; (2) infer deep brain biomarkers of PTSD with
fNIRS; and (3) assess day-to-day fluctuations of fNIRS biomarkers. Successful completion of this K99/R00
research will make significant inroads to providing scientists access to affordable and valid biomarkers of PTSD
for diagnosis and improved understanding of brain mechanisms underlying PTSD. Dr. Balters will be equipped
with a unique and interdisciplinary skill set to advance PTSD neuroimaging with fNIRS. To bolster her potential
for success, Dr. Balters positioned herself within an outstanding research and academic environment at Stanford
University, secured the support of except...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10840004
- **Project number:** 5K99MH132880-02
- **Recipient organization:** STANFORD UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** STEPHANIE BALTERS
- **Activity code:** K99 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $126,656
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-05-15 → 2026-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10840004

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10840004, Towards elucidating PTSD pathogenesis with ultra-portable and low-cost neuroimaging (5K99MH132880-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10840004. Licensed CC0.

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