Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Virginia received a $717,030 Project Grant 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 May 1, 2026, through March 31, 2031. This research grant funds the development and application of molecular connectomics techniques to elucidate neural circuits controlling body weight and energy homeostasis in the hypothalamus. The project will deliver fundamental scientific research aimed at identifying and characterizing previously unknown neuronal populations and synaptic connections between agouti-related peptide (AGRP) neurons and pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons—key regulators of appetite and metabolism. The research employs a novel methodology called RAMPANT (rabies afferent mapping by poly-A nuclear transcriptomics) that integrates monosynaptic rabies tracing with single-cell and spatial transcriptomics to map neural connectivity.

The specific research deliverables include detailed anatomical, neurochemical, and functional characterization of POMC-to-AGRP synaptic connections; identification and molecular profiling of afferent neuron populations providing inputs to melanocortin neurons; and determination of how these neural circuits adapt to changes in caloric requirements, including conservation of these features in human systems. By advancing understanding of the organizational principles governing appetite and metabolic regulation at the circuit level, this research has potential to identify novel therapeutic targets for metabolic and obesity-related disorders and contribute to the scientific foundation supporting improved prevention and treatment of diabetes and related metabolic diseases.