Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Tufts Medical Center Parent, Inc. (doing business as Tufts Medical Center) received a $616,031 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). The award, obligated on May 5, 2026, funds research through February 28, 2031, and supports fundamental and translational neuroscience research investigating the role of arterial endothelial pannexin 1 (PANX1) channels in ischemic stroke outcomes, with particular emphasis on age- and sex-based differences in stroke pathophysiology and recovery.

The research project will deliver scientific findings and mechanistic data examining how PANX1 channels contribute to post-ischemic stroke complications, including vascular dementia and differential outcomes between sexes and age groups. Specifically, the study will investigate the interaction between arterial endothelial PANX1 and αvβ3 integrins in regulating cerebral blood flow and infarct volume, with preliminary evidence suggesting that PANX1 overexpression impairs stroke recovery particularly in female subjects. These research products will advance the understanding of novel therapeutic targets to improve ischemic stroke outcomes in populations currently ineligible for standard vascular occlusion removal interventions.