Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) awarded The Johns Hopkins University a $580,924 Project Grant, effective April 17, 2026 through March 31, 2031, under the Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders (CFDA 93.853) program. This award supports the development and optimization of Ionic Direct Current (IDC) stimulation as a novel neuromodulation technology for targeted modulation of neural population gain at the cortical column scale. The research will deliver three primary outputs: computational biophysical models predicting IDC effects on neural activity; experimental validation of IDC's capacity to modulate cortical gain in anesthetized rat somatosensory cortex and in a behavioral disease model using SHANK3-/- mice to assess potential alleviation of tactile hypersensitivity associated with excitatory-inhibitory imbalances; and engineering development of a multichannel wireless IDC backpack system for chronic, multi-site stimulation studies in rodents.

This integrated research initiative combines computational neuroscience, experimental validation, and hardware engineering to address a critical gap in neuromodulation precision. Unlike existing technologies such as optogenetics or pharmacological interventions, IDC technology offers millisecond temporal resolution and 200-micrometer spatial precision for dynamic, localized neural circuit manipulation while preserving natural neural activity patterns. The resulting technology platform and validation data will enable broader scientific adoption of IDC for investigating neural mechanisms underlying attention, learning, sensory adaptation, and decision-making processes.