Federal Project Grant Summary

Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) received a $615,186 Project Grant award 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), effective April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2031. This research project investigates the mechanistic role of alpha-5 (α5) integrin in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) pathogenesis, with particular focus on how this molecular switch functions in myeloid cells, including microglia and peripheral macrophages, during disease progression.

The research deliverables include comprehensive mechanistic studies utilizing two primary approaches: conditional knockout mouse models designed to selectively delete α5 integrin in specific myeloid cell populations, and human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cellular systems to elucidate how α5 integrin regulates microglial function. The project will characterize cell type-specific contributions of α5 integrin to ALS pathogenesis and determine how this integrin influences microglial migration, phagocytosis, and motor neuron interactions in both healthy and disease contexts. Preliminary findings suggest that blocking α5 integrin extends survival in ALS mouse models, positioning this research to establish α5 integrin as a novel therapeutic target and advance immunomodulatory treatment strategies for this neurodegenerative disease.