The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) awarded a $375,835 Project Grant (CFDA 93.242 Mental Health Research Grants) to the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) to investigate the biophysical mechanisms governing axon morphology and function. The 5-year project, titled "CRCNS: Biophysical Modeling of Axonal Morphology and Function," aims to determine how lipid composition and cytoskeletal structure influence axon structure, ion channel localization, and action potential propagation. UCSD will collaborate with Johns Hopkins University, which received a $221,063 sub-award to perform experimental analysis of axon ultrastructure and electrophysiology under different osmotic conditions and after modulating lipids and cytoskeleton. The research seeks to reveal fundamental biophysical principles underlying axon dynamics and relate them to neurological disorders. The grant was awarded on September 1, 2024 and is expected to be completed by June 30, 2029.
Generated 3/18/25, 3:36 AM