Project Grant R01NS144538

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke awarded The Washington University $617,439 on July 21, 2026, under the Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders program (CFDA 93.853) to examine how lesion location and extent affect post-stroke neuroplasticity and recovery mechanisms.

The project will use rat stroke models with varying lesion sizes and locations—systematically manipulating damage to the corticospinal tract and lesions in the cortex or internal capsule—to determine whether the contralesional hemisphere's role in recovery depends on lesion characteristics. The research employs electrophysiology, functional imaging, and cortical inactivation to test the bimodal balance recovery model, which predicts that recovery mechanisms vary based on corticospinal tract integrity: incomplete infarcts recover through restored interhemispheric balance, while complete infarcts depend on the unaffected hemisphere. The work addresses the gap between animal models with uniform lesions and human stroke patients who present heterogeneous lesion profiles, aiming to improve translation of recovery mechanisms into targeted interventions.

The award runs through June 30, 2031, with place of performance in St. Louis, Missouri. The Washington University's Office of Sponsored Research Services Division serves as the recipient organization.