This Project Grant award from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), under the Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders program (CFDA 93.173), supports research investigating the cellular and molecular basis for detecting osmolality in the insect gustatory (taste) system. The $194,375 award to the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) aims to define the role of osmolality in modulating feeding behavior in fruit flies, and elucidate the neural and molecular mechanisms underlying high osmolality detection in the fly gustatory system. The funded research will employ genetic, electrophysiological, and imaging techniques to characterize the gustatory neurons and ion channels involved in the suppression of appetitive responses by high osmolality stimuli. The findings are expected to provide novel insights into how aversive sensory cues, like high osmolality, can deter feeding by inhibiting the activation of attractive taste pathways. The award period runs from May 1, 2025 to April 30, 2027.
Mod # | Description | Reason For Modification | Federal Obligation (Click to sort descending) | Date (Click to sort ascending) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not listed | $194.4k | 5/1/25 |