# Neural Metabolic Stress in mTBI and PTSD

> **NIH VA IK2** · VA BOSTON HEALTH CARE SYSTEM · 2020 · —

## Abstract

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are common co-
occurring and debilitating conditions that affect many veterans of the post 9/11 conflicts. Recent
studies suggest that mTBI and PTSD are associated with disruptions in brain structure and
function. However, the mechanism linking mTBI and PTSD to these neural consequences are
unclear. One possibility is that these conditions influence neural integrity through
cerebrovascular dysfunction. This is consistent with recent research showing an association
between mTBI and cerebrovascular dysfunction, but more work is needed to determine whether
this association impacts neural integrity over time. Similarly, PTSD has been linked to
disruptions in vascular health, with evidence suggesting an increased prevalence of peripheral
metabolic conditions. However, it is unclear to what extent the peripheral vascular dysfunction
reported in PTSD studies is also manifested in cerebrovascular dysfunction or to what extent
the presence of PTSD might moderate the relationship between mTBI and poor cerebrovascular
health. Complicating the picture even further, recent work suggests that individual differences in
genetic factors may play a role in the relationship between mTBI and neural health, but it is
unknown how or to what extent these genetic factors might influence the associations between
mTBI and cerebrovascular dysfunction. The overarching goal of this proposal is to use a large,
unique and rich longitudinal dataset of Operations Enduring Freedom/Iraqi Freedom/New Dawn
(OEF/OIF/OND) veterans to understand neural metabolic health in mTBI and how it relates to
individual differences in genetics, PTSD, and neural integrity. The long-term goal is to discover
treatment targets (pathways) that can lead to effective interventions and therapies for mTBI and
PTSD. This proposal will support Dr. Sullivan’s training and research in cutting-edge and
integrative techniques to study the neurobiology of mTBI and PTSD. Towards this goal, this
application will provide the necessary training to lead a successful, independent program of
research centered on veterans’ health. Training goals of this application are: (1) learn
cerebrovascular imaging techniques; (2) learn principles, methodology, and applications of
human molecular genetics; and (3) learn advanced multivariate statistics and methods suitable
for multi-modal and high-dimensional datasets. These training goals will be augmented by
experimental training in four research aims: (1) examine associations between mTBI and
cerebrovascular dysfunction; (2) examine the influence of genetic factors on neural metabolic
stress and mTBI; (3) examine the influence of PTSD on the association between mTBI and
cerebrovascular health; and (4) examine whether deficits in cerebrovascular function predict
changes in neural integrity over time in mTBI. The primary hypotheses of this study are that
mTBI is associated with disruptions in neural metabo...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9932311
- **Project number:** 5IK2CX001772-03
- **Recipient organization:** VA BOSTON HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
- **Principal Investigator:** Danielle R Sullivan
- **Activity code:** IK2 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-07-01 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9932311

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9932311, Neural Metabolic Stress in mTBI and PTSD (5IK2CX001772-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9932311. Licensed CC0.

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