# Baboon model of chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment and accelerated aging

> **NIH NIH K01** · UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR · 2024 · $188,282

## Abstract

Project Summary
Chemotherapy is an extremely effective treatment for cancer; however, along with chemotherapy’s benefits
there are many undesirable consequences including chemotherapy-related cognitive impairments (CRCI) and
accelerated aging. Despite impacts on quality of life, these areas are relatively understudied and there are
currently no FDA approved treatments available. A sophisticated animal model to address this problem will be
extremely valuable, both to our understanding of the long-term consequences and to the development of
potential treatments. Currently, CRCI and chemotherapy-related accelerated aging is studied in rodents, but a
nonhuman primate model will significantly enhance the validity of studies addressing this still under-researched
phenomenon. In this proposed study, we aim to establish a baboon model of CRCI and accelerated aging. We
will further define healthy aging in a baboon sample, then investigate whether chemotherapy induces cognitive
decline and accelerates brain aging in baboons as it does in humans and test an intervention which has been
effective in mice. We will collect brain imaging, cognitive, and aging molecular biomarker data from baboons
prior to treatment with cisplatin only or cisplatin followed by an HDAC6 inhibitor. We will then collect further
brain, cognitive, and aging data post-treatment to examine changes related to the chemotherapy regimen and
whether the HDAC6 inhibitor reverses cognitive declines and neurodegeneration. These data will be used to
propose further studies as well as techniques to potentially mitigate these consequences of chemotherapy in
humans.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10901848
- **Project number:** 5K01AG078411-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Michele M Mulholland
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $188,282
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-08-15 → 2027-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10901848

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10901848, Baboon model of chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment and accelerated aging (5K01AG078411-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10901848. Licensed CC0.

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