Federal Grant Award Summary

This Project Grant, awarded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) under the Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders program (CFDA 93.853), supports a five-year research initiative at Weill Medical College of Cornell University to investigate the role of enteric alpha-synuclein in Parkinson's disease pathophysiology. The $235,305 award (obligated July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031) funds research designed to elucidate how changes in alpha-synuclein synaptic vesicle-binding within enteric neurons contribute to gastrointestinal dysfunction and early disease manifestation. The project deliverables include: (1) characterization of region-specific and temporal changes in alpha-synuclein expression and synaptic vesicle-binding in the enteric nervous system using whole-mount immunostaining and biochemical analyses; (2) evaluation of colonic alpha-synuclein synaptic vesicle-binding as a potential biomarker for Parkinson's disease diagnosis using clinical and prodromal disease subjects; and (3) assessment of the functional relationship between enteric alpha-synuclein synaptic vesicle-binding and gastrointestinal dysfunction using isolated colonic tissue preparations.

The research outputs are intended to establish enteric alpha-synuclein as an early diagnostic biomarker for Parkinson's disease, thereby facilitating earlier clinical detection and identification of potential neuroprotective therapeutic targets. The project incorporates an integrated investigator training plan, reflecting NINDS's emphasis on supporting both scientific discovery and workforce development in neuroscience research.