Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) received a $122,075 Project Grant award from the National Eye Institute (NEI) under the Vision Research program (CFDA 93.867), effective April 15, 2026, with completion by March 31, 2028. This research initiative investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying developmental plasticity in the primary visual cortex (V1), with emphasis on understanding how sensory experience regulates neural circuit organization. The project employs integrated molecular approaches—including single-cell transcriptomics, epigenomics, connectomics, and computational analysis—to map the relationship between genes, cell types, regulatory networks, and circuit structure in layers 2 and 3 (L2/3) glutamatergic neurons.

The research deliverables include: (1) a developmental atlas characterizing L2/3 neuron cell-type continua using existing single-cell RNA sequencing datasets from visually deprived and non-deprived mice, identifying vision-dependent gene programs and temporal regulatory patterns; and (2) analysis of axonal-projection patterns in L2/3 neurons to establish causal linkages between identified molecular programs and cortical wiring organization. These outputs will advance understanding of how visual experience shapes fundamental aspects of cortical development and plasticity, with potential implications for vision-related neuroscience and developmental neurobiology.