# Functional Connectivity Markers of Cognitive Network Disfunction in Chiari Malformation

> **NIH NIH K23** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $210,090

## Abstract

Project Summary
 Chiari malformation (CM) is a challenging disease that frequently presents during development in the
pediatric age range. Despite its well-defined anatomic pathology, characterized by ectopic position of the
cerebellar tonsils herniating through the foramen magnum, its clinical phenotype is variable. Here we propose
an advanced neuroimaging study to seek novel explanations for CM symptomology through personalized
connectomics using resting state functional MRI (rs-fMRI). In Aim 1, we will first capitalize on publicly shared
data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study for incidentally identified CM subjects
and typically developing controls. In Aim 2, we will acquire identical ABCD protocol MRI data at presentation
and longitudinal timepoints in both surgical and non-surgical subjects who are symptomatic and present for
clinical care. We will replicate the imaging and cognitive testing from the ABCD Study in our clinical cohort for
direct comparisons. We will also record the Chiari Severity Index (CSI) and Chiari Health Index in Pediatrics
(CHIP) metrics, which have been developed and validated specific to CM, in our clinical cohort. Finally, in Aim
3, for a subset of participants we will obtain highly sampled longitudinal data at frequent timepoints after
surgical intervention to better characterize the time course of functional connectivity (FC) changes, or
potentially confirm if any lack of change could be dependent on timing of data collection. This final aim will be
critical for future studies of similar design to optimize decisions on how long after surgery imaging should
ideally be acquired to maximize effect measured and avoid missing a transient effect. The FC changes and
correlations to natural history, symptoms, and response to treatment will be valuable as potential biomarkers of
disease that could be used to guide treatment decisions for future clinical care. While this study is aimed at
evaluating FC as a potential marker of cognitive dysfunction specific to CM, its methodology and design will be
adapted to several other novel pathologies in the future as my research career develops. Furthermore, the
results of this study will provide fundamental knowledge about the relationship between brain structure and
function. Specifically, for CM these results relate mechanical compression from ectopic position of the
cerebellar tonsils to FC in resting state networks throughout the brain and its related cognitive symptoms. In
this manner, we are directly addressing the aims of the NINDS by assessing basic cognitive neuroscience
fundamentals of disease in CM and its potential for translation to clinical care of neurologic disease. The data
collection and analysis methods are part of a focused plan to advance my career development through training
in acquisition of advanced fMRI data, surface-based analysis, and large data analysis from the ABCD Study
dataset. In parallel, I will participate in course work...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10887009
- **Project number:** 1K23NS133486-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Jarod Roland
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $210,090
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-06-15 → 2029-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10887009

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10887009, Functional Connectivity Markers of Cognitive Network Disfunction in Chiari Malformation (1K23NS133486-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10887009. Licensed CC0.

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