Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of South Florida received $588,794 in federal funding 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). The award, effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031, supports a five-year research project investigating microglial laminin's role in blood-brain barrier (BBB) repair and microglial activation following ischemic stroke. The research will deliver scientific knowledge through three coordinated research aims utilizing conditional knockout mouse models, ischemic stroke models, and human brain organoids to elucidate novel therapeutic targets for stroke treatment.

The project will produce research outputs including mechanistic data on microglial laminin functions in stroke pathogenesis, findings on BBB permeability and repair mechanisms (examining both paracellular and transcellular pathways), pericyte biology characterization, and microglial activation and phagocytic response analysis. Deliverables will encompass molecular and cellular biology assays (EDU and TUNEL proliferation/apoptosis assays, RNAseq gene expression analysis, and phagocytosis assays), receptor identification through pharmacological and genetic approaches, and comprehensive documentation of the underlying mechanisms by which microglial laminin influences post-stroke neurological outcomes. These research findings are intended to support the development of innovative therapies addressing ischemic stroke, which remains a leading cause of death and disability worldwide.