Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill received a $439,069 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), awarded June 22, 2026, with completion targeted for April 30, 2031. The grant supports fundamental research investigating the molecular, cellular, and genetic mechanisms underlying astrocyte morphological development and function in the central nervous system (CNS). The research employs molecular-genetic tools and live-imaging techniques in Drosophila and zebrafish model systems to elucidate how neurons and astrocytes communicate to regulate astrocyte process outgrowth, with particular focus on the phospholipid-binding G protein-coupled receptor TRE1/S1PR1 and its role in astrocyte complexity. Understanding these developmental mechanisms addresses gaps in knowledge relevant to neurological disorders including Alzheimer's disease, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.

The deliverables encompass scientific research output including experimental data, peer-reviewed publications, and methodological advances in astrocyte imaging and genetic manipulation. The project will define how phospholipid ligands are regulated across neuron-astrocyte interactions to direct astrocyte process outgrowth using genetic, chemical, and in vivo imaging approaches in zebrafish. Research findings will contribute to the NINDS mission of reducing the burden of neurological disease through fundamental knowledge of brain and nervous system structure and function.