Federal Grant Award Summary

Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University (Virginia Tech) received a $392,338 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 May 15, 2026, with a completion date of April 30, 2031. The research project investigates synaptic signaling mechanisms in Toxoplasma-infected brains, specifically examining how the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii causes seizures and neurological complications when reactivated in immunocompromised patients and fetuses. The research addresses a critical public health concern, as approximately one-third of the global population carries latent T. gondii infections that can become life-threatening when the host immune system fails.

The project delivers fundamental neuroscience research outputs through two primary research aims: (Aim 1) studying how the complement system recognizes inhibitory perisomatic synapses for elimination during toxoplasmic encephalitis, and (Aim 2) identifying neuronal factors that recruit microglia to remove these critical inhibitory synapses. By elucidating the mechanisms linking pathogen-host interactions to seizure development, this research will generate novel insights into seizure pathophysiology and inform future therapeutic interventions for patients with toxoplasmosis-related neurological disease.