Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Inc. (BIDMC) received a $834,911 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) under the Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.847), effective April 1, 2026, with completion targeted for January 31, 2031. The award supports fundamental neuroscience research aimed at creating the first comprehensive mammalian roadmap of selective brain-to-gut communication circuits. Specifically, the research leverages transcriptional diversity and genetic approaches in mouse models to map connections between dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV) neuron subtypes and enteric nervous system (ENS) neuron subtypes, advancing understanding of how the central nervous system controls gastrointestinal physiology from the distal esophagus to proximal colon.

The deliverables include the development of detailed neuroanatomical and functional characterization of DMV-to-ENS motor circuits that mediate parasympathetic control of gastrointestinal responses. Building on preliminary single nuclei RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) atlas data, the project applies neuron subtype-specific genetic and molecular tools to uncover and selectively manipulate previously uncharacterized circuit connections. These research products are designed to establish the feasibility and provide a foundational roadmap for understanding the highly specific neural circuits controlling gastrointestinal function, with potential implications for future therapeutic interventions in digestive diseases.