Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Nova Southeastern University, Inc. received a $614,458 Project Grant awarded on May 8, 2026, by 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 funds a five-year research initiative (completion date: April 30, 2031) investigating the molecular mechanisms by which mycotoxin exposure contributes to Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) pathophysiology. This represents the first peer-reviewed study examining how fungal mycotoxins affect immune system function in ME/CFS patients.

The research deliverables include four primary aims: quantification of urinary mycotoxins and assessment of associations with symptom severity and plasma cytokines in 150 ME/CFS patients and 50 healthy controls; single-cell RNA sequencing analysis to define mycotoxin contribution to transcriptomic alterations in peripheral blood mononuclear cells; identification of long and small RNA signatures in plasma-derived extracellular vesicles associated with mycotoxin exposure; and integration of multi-omics data using machine learning to identify mechanistic correlations between mycotoxin exposure, immune dysregulation, and symptom severity. Results will be validated using a separate cohort of 20 ME/CFS patients and 10 healthy controls. The project aims to advance understanding of ME/CFS biological mechanisms and establish potential diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for this disabling multisystem disease affecting approximately 3.3 million Americans.