Project Grant R01NS146407

Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) awarded Rockefeller University a Project Grant of $630,609 on July 14, 2026, under the Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders program (CFDA 93.853). The research focuses on understanding how glial cells sense and respond to damage in neuronal dendrites—the receptive branches critical to neuron signaling. Using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism, the research team will investigate the signal transduction pathway through which glial cells mount protective responses to preserve dendritic integrity following injury. The project will examine the interaction between DGS-1 (a neuronal 7-transmembrane domain protein) and FIG-1 (a glial thrombospondin-domain protein), along with the role of the PROS-1 glial transcription factor, to elucidate mechanisms of glial-mediated neuroprotection. These findings are anticipated to be conserved across vertebrate systems, including mammals.

The award extends through June 30, 2031, and represents foundational basic research aligned with NINDS's mission to reduce the burden of neurological disease. Project Grants comprise approximately 94 percent of NINDS funding and support investigator-initiated research exploring fundamental structure and function of the brain and nervous system. Rockefeller University, a major NIH research recipient with 49 active NINDS awards totaling $18.6 million in combined potential value, will conduct the work at its New York facility and anticipated to generate peer-reviewed research findings advancing understanding of glia-dendrite interactions and neuroprotective signaling mechanisms.