Federal Grant Award Summary

New York University School of Medicine received a $638,783 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), awarded on May 24, 2026, with an ultimate completion date of April 30, 2031. The research project investigates how mammalian posterior group Hox transcription factors diversify their function to pattern the spinal cord during embryonic development. The project will deliver fundamental scientific knowledge regarding the protein domains and specific amino acid sequences in Hoxc9 and Hoxc13 that mediate binding to inaccessible chromatin and DNA residence time, as well as complementary machine learning analyses to characterize differential DNA binding preferences and activation properties across vertebrate Hox transcription factor families.

This basic research initiative addresses a significant gap in understanding how transcription factors within the same gene family perform distinct regulatory functions during neuronal development, with direct relevance to comprehending spinal cord patterning and potential implications for understanding developmental neurological processes. The research will be conducted at New York University's facility in New York, New York, and represents a competitive merit-based award from NINDS following standard NIH peer review procedures.