The University of Illinois was awarded a $1,120,805 Project Grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) under the Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders (CFDA 93.853) on July 15, 2024. The grant supports research to investigate the mechanisms by which prior SARS-CoV-2 infection accelerates vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID). The key objectives are to:
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Determine how prior SARS-CoV-2 infection influences blood-brain barrier permeability and cognition upon subsequent vascular insult, through genetic and epigenetic modifications.
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Use endothelial-targeted genetic interventions to assess the contribution of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in resisting post-infectious VCID.
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Evaluate whether established post-infectious VCID can be reversed by increasing cerebrovascular Wnt/β-catenin signaling.
The research aims to identify novel approaches to predict individual risk for VCID and develop potential therapeutic strategies to mitigate the impact of prior COVID-19 infection on the development of dementia.
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