Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Texas at San Antonio received a $600,000 Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award from the National Science Foundation's Division of Civil, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Innovation under the Engineering program (CFDA 47.041), effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2031. The project delivers high-resolution, species-specific computational brain models and digital simulations designed to advance understanding of traumatic brain injury (TBI) across human and animal species. Key products include validated biomechanical models that incorporate detailed brain anatomy, cortical folding patterns, and white-matter fiber architecture derived from medical imaging data, along with simulation tools that model tissue-level deformation and injury mechanisms under head loading conditions. These research outputs are intended to inform the development of more effective protective strategies and reduce the need for animal testing by enabling animal studies that better reflect human injury mechanisms.

The award encompasses an integrated research and education program that generates additional products and services including public exhibits, teacher training materials, and brain-based educational models designed to engage learners and support workforce development in science and engineering. The project advances fundamental biomechanics and mechanobiology by explicitly linking brain structural differences across species to mechanical responses and injury thresholds, with research findings expected to contribute to both scientific knowledge and practical applications in injury prevention and protective equipment design.