This $349,738 project grant award from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) under the Alcohol Research Programs (CFDA 93.273) is funding research at Ursinus College to investigate the role of microglial fractalkine signaling in altered dopaminergic wiring resulting from fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD).
The research aims to (1) define the developmental timing of alcohol-induced alterations in fractalkine signaling, and (2) determine the impact of these changes on microglial number, activation, and regulation of dopaminergic axon guidance. Techniques employed will include in vivo measurement of fractalkine and cytokine levels, immunostaining and 3D reconstruction of microglia, and tracing of dopaminergic axons. This work is expected to enhance understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the neuroinflammation and dampened dopamine function observed in FASD. The project will be conducted by Ursinus College from August 2023 through July 2025.
Generated 7/16/24, 10:36 AM