Project Grant R01NS142815

Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) awarded $674,950 to Boston Children's Hospital on January 16, 2026, under the Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders (CFDA 93.853) program. This project grant supports fundamental neuroscience research aimed at dissecting neural circuits responsible for top-down control of sympathetic nervous system functions. The research will analyze circuit architectures of spinal-projecting neurons originating from medullary and hypothalamic regions that regulate sympathetic preganglionic neurons, with particular focus on understanding how these circuits control baseline sympathetic tone and respond to physiological stimuli such as exercise and pain.

The four-year research initiative, scheduled for completion by December 31, 2030, is expected to advance fundamental knowledge about autonomic nervous system regulation and its health implications. This investigator-initiated project addresses a significant gap in understanding sympathetic regulation mechanisms, which are essential to controlling vital physiological processes including heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration. The research will be conducted at Boston Children's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, a leading pediatric research institution affiliated with Harvard Medical School with substantial experience managing federally funded neuroscience and translational research programs.