Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) awarded the University of Washington a Project Grant totaling $502,070 on April 21, 2026, under the Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders program (CFDA 93.853). This award supports fundamental neuroscience research investigating the mechanisms underlying axon length-dependent degeneration in neurodegenerative disorders. The research will deliver scientific findings and insights into how neurons with long or complex axonal structures exhibit preferential vulnerability to degeneration, with studies examining the role of neuronal stress-induced inflammatory cytokine production and glial cell-mediated axon removal using Drosophila melanogaster as a model system.

The research deliverables include rigorous characterization of the UPD3 (unpaired 3, an interleukin-6 orthologue) signaling pathway, identification and functional analysis of phagocytic glial cells involved in axon degeneration, and definition of intrinsic molecular signals that confer length-dependent vulnerability to degeneration. Findings will address a significant gap in understanding neurodegenerative disease pathophysiology and may inform future therapeutic interventions targeting axon length-dependent mechanisms. The award period extends through December 31, 2030, with research performance conducted at the University of Washington's Seattle, Washington facility.