Federal Grant Award Summary

Dr. Ethan Sanford at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center received a $219,483 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) under the Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders program (CFDA 93.853), effective June 16, 2026 through May 31, 2031. The award supports research investigating cerebral autoregulation impairment and neurologic injury in pediatric patients requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Dr. Sanford will utilize prospectively collected, multicenter physiologic data to develop mathematical models that determine impaired cerebral autoregulation duration by analyzing high-frequency, time-matched cerebral oximetry and mean arterial blood pressure data from non-invasive monitoring devices already in use with ECMO patients.

The research deliverables include two primary objectives: (1) determining whether impaired cerebral autoregulation is associated with severe neurologic injury in pediatric ECMO patients, and (2) establishing whether changes in carbon dioxide levels during ECMO correlate with changes in cerebral autoregulation and neurologic injury outcomes. This innovative approach addresses critical knowledge gaps regarding the burden of impaired cerebral autoregulation during ECMO and identifies modifiable clinical factors that impact cerebrovascular health. The project aims to establish Dr. Sanford as an independent researcher capable of conducting clinical interventions that improve neurologic outcomes in pediatric critical care settings.