Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of Utah's Office of Sponsored Projects received a $657,829 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) under the Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.865), effective July 1, 2026, through April 30, 2031. This award supports fundamental neuroscience research investigating how social isolation alters neural dynamics governing mating behavior across model organisms. The project will deliver integrated research outputs combining machine learning analytics, computational modeling, behavioral analyses, in vivo microendoscopic imaging of neural activity, and cell-type-specific functional manipulations in mice to elucidate the role of neuropeptide signaling within the hypothalamus in mediating isolation-induced reproductive disruption.

The research initiative comprises three primary deliverables: (1) determination of neuropeptide signaling mechanisms within the hypothalamus controlling isolation's effects on reproduction; (2) characterization of how neural activity reorganizes in response to social isolation; and (3) analysis of male isolation's impact on conspecific female behavior and neural activity. Collectively, these research products will advance understanding of circuit-level mechanisms governing internal brain states and are expected to yield findings with significant translational implications for treating social isolation-related public health disturbances, including domestic violence, infertility, and relationship dysfunction.