Federal Grant Award Summary

President and Fellows of Harvard College, operating through Harvard Medical School, received a $120,501 Project Grant awarded February 2, 2026, 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). The grant funds a two-year research initiative (through January 31, 2028) based in Boston, Massachusetts, to elucidate the molecular and functional diversity of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) somatosensory neurons across multiple mammalian species.

The project delivers comprehensive research outputs investigating interspecies variations in somatosensory neuron biology through three primary research aims. Aim 1 characterizes cell-type-specific sensory receptor gene expression patterns across diverse mammals, from laboratory mice to non-traditional model organisms such as naked mole rats, utilizing single-nucleus RNA-sequencing datasets. Aim 2 employs single-cell ATAC-sequencing (assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing) to identify enhancers enabling genetic access to previously inaccessible DRG neuron types, with the goal of developing novel viral-genetic tools to characterize their anatomy, physiology, and function. These research activities advance fundamental neuroscience knowledge regarding somatosensory system evolution and mechanisms, contributing to the NINDS mission of reducing the burden of neurological disease through enhanced understanding of nervous system structure and function.