The National Science Foundation Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences awarded Virginia Commonwealth University $279,994 on January 1, 2027, to develop data-driven computational models and mathematical theory describing information propagation in neural circuits impaired by Parkinson's disease, specifically the basal ganglia thalamo-cortical network.
The project addresses how Parkinson's disease disrupts motor command transmission in the brain. Despite well-established markers of the disease in neural activity—increases in oscillatory power in the beta frequency band—the precise mechanisms of motor information transmission remain unknown. The research will combine mathematical theory and computational tools to clarify these disruptions, with findings intended to inform development of real-time, personalized treatments that could enhance the effectiveness of invasive therapies and improve mobility and independence for people living with the disease. The work also supports interdisciplinary training for students at the intersection of mathematics, engineering, and neuroscience.
Performance runs through December 31, 2029, at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. The award is classified as a Project Grant under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049).