The University of Chicago was awarded a $625,000 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Integrative Organismal Systems under the Biological Sciences CFDA program. This three-year collaborative research project will elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the activation of ROBO receptor proteins that guide the growth and navigation of axons during neural circuit development. The research aims to determine how ROBO receptors have evolved to allow for the wiring of increasingly complex nervous systems. By providing insights into the molecular mechanisms of axon pathfinding, this work can improve our understanding of neurodevelopmental disorders and inform potential therapeutic approaches for neural circuit repair. The project will also provide research training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, with an emphasis on career development for women and underrepresented minorities, as well as outreach activities at local high schools in Chicago and Providence to engage students in developmental neurobiology research.