Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) awarded Massachusetts Institute of Technology a $803,849 Project Grant effective June 3, 2026, through March 31, 2031, under the Mental Health Research Grants program (CFDA 93.242). This research initiative will deliver advanced neuroscience research services focused on understanding reward system function in the brain through innovative functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) techniques. The project will utilize a novel genetically encoded sensor called NOSTIC (Noninvasive Optical Sensing Technology for In vivo Circuit mapping) to enable circuit-specific fMRI imaging of discrete neural components at the population level. The research will examine how neural information propagates among interconnected brain regions—specifically the nucleus accumbens, ventral tegmental area, and prefrontal cortex—during rewarding stimulation, reward-based classical conditioning, and closed-loop self-stimulation tasks in animal models.

The deliverables from this project will include network-based computational models of reward system function, peer-reviewed publications advancing understanding of neural information flow and reward prediction mechanisms, and foundational scientific insights into reward-induced neuroplasticity. The research outputs will contribute to the broader national effort to transform understanding of mental illnesses by elucidating the neurobiological mechanisms underlying reward processing, with potential applications to understanding pathologies related to reward system dysfunction. The project scope encompasses three primary research aims utilizing complementary anatomical, physiological, and imaging measurements to advance the scientific and technical knowledge base in neuroscience research.