Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) awarded $114,102 to the University of Florida's Division of Sponsored Research on May 4, 2026, under the Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders program (CFDA 93.853). This two-year Project Grant, concluding April 30, 2028, supports translational neuroscience research investigating the role of striatal mu opioid receptor-containing neurons in L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia (LID), a severe movement disorder affecting up to 90 percent of Parkinson's disease patients undergoing chronic L-DOPA treatment.

The funded research deliverables include scientific investigations employing electrophysiology and optical neuroscience techniques, including one-photon in vivo calcium imaging, paired with behavioral analysis to elucidate how cellular ensembles and neural circuits contribute to LID symptoms. The award supports investigator training in advanced neuroimaging methodologies and computational neuroscience, with mentorship from subject matter experts in opioid pharmacology, electrophysiology, and machine learning-based behavioral analysis. Expected outcomes include high-impact peer-reviewed publications and preparation for independent R01 grant submissions, advancing fundamental understanding of movement disorder mechanisms and informing translational therapeutic strategies.