Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) awarded The Washington University a Project Grant totaling $735,920 under the Mental Health Research Grants program (CFDA 93.242), effective June 1, 2026, through February 28, 2031. This research initiative investigates the neural mechanisms underlying threat learning and avoidance behaviors, specifically examining the role of newly identified neuron populations in the supramammillary nucleus (SUM). The project will deliver scientific insights into how these neurons function during threat conditioning, extinction learning, and sustained avoidance through advanced neuroscientific research products including real-time neuronal activity recordings via fiber photometry, optogenetic manipulations, behavioral assays, and molecular characterization studies employing projection-tagged viruses and single-nucleus RNA sequencing.

The research deliverables will advance understanding of active coping mechanisms and identify potential therapeutic targets for stress and anxiety-related disorders. Key products include comprehensive characterization of neural circuits connecting the supramammillary nucleus to the nucleus accumbens (NAC), detailed analysis of neural types recruited during threat learning and sustained avoidance, and mechanistic insights into how specific neuronal populations promote threat avoidance behaviors. These findings are expected to contribute to the development of novel evidence-based treatment approaches for anxiety and stress-related psychiatric conditions, consistent with NIMH's mission to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses through rigorous basic and clinical research.