Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Iowa received a $582,252 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 February 5, 2026, with completion scheduled for November 30, 2030. The project develops computational tools to predict long-term cognitive outcomes in stroke patients based on lesion location analysis. The research leverages the University of Iowa's comprehensive lesion registry containing demographic, neuroimaging, and cognitive outcome data from stroke patients to generate personalized, quantitative prognostication using lesion-symptom mapping and lesion network mapping methodologies.

The project will produce predictive models validated across seven independent stroke cohorts that correlate specific brain lesion locations with cognitive impairment patterns and network disconnection. By identifying which brain regions and neural networks are disrupted by stroke lesions in association with specific cognitive symptoms, the research aims to improve the accuracy of clinical outcome predictions beyond current standard-of-care prognostication methods. The deliverables include refined lesion-symptom mapping approaches and optimized lesion-network mapping strategies that clinical practitioners can utilize to provide patients and families with evidence-based predictions of stroke recovery and persistent cognitive deficits.