The National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) National Institute on Aging (NIA) has awarded Duke Anesthesiology’s Alicia Bedolla, PhD, a three-year $237,708 F32 (Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (NRSA)) grant for her project titled, “Effect of Amyloid Pathology on Neurovascular Integrity in Postoperative Delirium Superimposed on Dementia.”
This award marks a milestone as the first NIH F32 secured in the department in more than 20 years, underscoring the exceptional caliber of our postdoctoral training environment, dedicated faculty mentorship, and groundbreaking nature of this research.
“I am particularly grateful for the opportunity to further my interest in neuroimmunity through this fellowship and to contribute to the ongoing research in the Terrando Lab focused on delirium superimposed on dementia,” says Bedolla, a postdoctoral associate in Dr. Niccolo Terrando’s Neuroinflammation and Cognitive Outcomes Laboratory. “The support of the NIH and the NIA is both a tremendous honor and an important affirmation of the potential impact of this research. I am deeply grateful for the mentorship that has contributed to this achievement, and I look forward to building on this foundation to continue my development as an independent investigator.”
This F32 will explore the contribution of neurovascular dysfunction and choroid plexus pathology in the pathogenesis of delirium superimposed on dementia. Delirium and dementia synergize in ways that we do not yet fully understand, leaving many patients, especially among older adults, permanently debilitated or resulting in postoperative mortality after a routine surgical procedure. Specific goals of this proposal will evaluate the choroid plexus as a potential target for blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier breakdown using a humanized preclinical model for Alzheimer's disease (AppSAA mice). Data from this proposal will provide novel insights into the mechanisms behind barrier dysfunction and neuroinflammation that are expected to help in identifying potential targets to treat these conditions.
“It is extremely rewarding to see this fellowship arriving in our department,” says Terrando, “and this recognition is highly deserved and reflects Dr. Bedolla’s dedication, perseverance, and tremendous scientific potential as she continues to advance in her career.”
The NRSA is one of the most prestigious milestones an early-career scientist can achieve. This highly competitive, peer-reviewed fellowship is awarded exclusively to postdoctoral researchers who demonstrate exceptional academic promise, a stellar training environment, and a high-impact research proposal. Securing an F32 signifies that the NIH recognizes the recipient as a top-tier emerging scientist with the potential to become an independent leader in biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research.