Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Florida International University received a $471,698 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 May 13, 2026, with completion targeted for March 31, 2031. The research project investigates the previously unexplored role of perivascular fibroblasts in blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) dysfunction and secondary injury following cervical spinal cord injury (SCI). The research will focus on identifying peptidase inhibitor 16 (PI16) as a novel therapeutic target for neuroprotection after SCI, with the goal of developing therapeutic interventions to block PI16 activity and protect against progressive tissue damage and functional loss.

The project deliverables include mechanistic research characterizing the role of interferon-gamma (IFNG) pathway signaling in perivascular fibroblast activation and PI16 upregulation, preclinical studies validating PI16 as a therapeutic target through knockout mouse models and neutralizing antibody interventions, and translational evidence supporting the neuroprotective potential of PI16-blocking approaches. Building upon preliminary data demonstrating reduced BSCB disruption and improved functional outcomes in PI16 knockout mice, the research is designed to advance understanding of secondary injury mechanisms and support development of a therapeutically viable treatment strategy to mitigate spinal cord injury outcomes and address a critical unmet clinical need.