Federal Grant Award Summary

Texas A&M University received a $500,307 Project Grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) under the Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders program (CFDA 93.853), effective April 1, 2026 through February 28, 2031. The award funds research investigating structural plasticity and circuit rewiring in Drosophila larval motor systems following neural injury or neuronal loss. The research will examine how different motor neuron types, synaptic configurations, and supporting non-neuronal cells (glial cells and muscles) contribute to adaptive responses in neural circuits, with the objective of identifying mechanisms that optimize functional circuit restoration following nervous system damage.

The project delivers fundamental neuroscience research products that advance understanding of neuroplasticity mechanisms relevant to therapeutic development for neural injuries and neurological disorders. Through controlled experimental manipulation of premotor neuron-motor neuron-muscle circuits in Drosophila larvae, the research will generate data on circuit rewiring capabilities across distinct neuronal and synaptic subtypes, intercellular signaling pathways, and cross-talk interactions among neurons, glia, and muscle tissues. These research findings are intended to inform optimization of therapeutic strategies for restoring circuit function and locomotor capability following neural injury in vertebrate systems.