Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Massachusetts Medical School received a $456,703 Project Grant from the National Institute on Aging under the Aging Research program (CFDA 93.866) for the period July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028. The award funds research investigating neuronal mechanisms that direct stress-responsive transcriptional programs, with a focus on understanding how the nervous system regulates cellular responses to oxidative stress. The research employs Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism to identify oxidative stress response pathway genes regulated by neural signaling and to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which cholinergic signaling through the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor GAR-3 enhances cell survival during prolonged oxidative stress. This foundational research has direct relevance to understanding neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), as well as metabolic disorders such as diabetes linked to oxidative stress in peripheral tissues.

The research deliverables will advance understanding of conserved stress response pathways and neural signaling mechanisms applicable across species from nematodes to humans. By defining the molecular mechanisms and transcriptional responses to oxidative stress regulated by the nervous system, this project contributes to the National Institute on Aging's mission to identify therapeutic targets and develop interventions for age-related diseases and neurodegenerative conditions. Research activities are conducted at the University of Massachusetts Medical School facility located in Worcester, Massachusetts.