Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) awarded Harvard College's Office For Sponsored Programs a $598,687 Project Grant on February 5, 2026, under the Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders (CFDA 93.853) program. The award funds research conducted in Cambridge, MA through January 31, 2031, focused on examining SNORD116's role in neuronal ribosome biology and its contribution to Prader-Willi Syndrome pathogenesis. The research employs advanced high-throughput sequencing techniques, including chimeric eCLIP and ribosome sequencing, to characterize SNORD116's interactions with ribosomal RNA and neuron-specific cofactors.

The primary deliverables include comprehensive mechanistic findings addressing three core objectives: determining SNORD116's function in ribosome biogenesis, assessing the effects of SNORD116 loss on neuronal protein synthesis, and identifying co-factors such as FBLL1 that modulate its activity. By elucidating these molecular mechanisms underlying Prader-Willi Syndrome, the research is designed to generate foundational knowledge that could inform therapeutic interventions targeting this neurodevelopmental disorder and advance broader understanding of other neurological conditions characterized by translation dysfunction in neurons.