Federal Grant Award Summary

The College of William & Mary received a $234,375 Project Grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) under the Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders (CFDA 93.853) program, awarded February 1, 2026, with a completion date of January 31, 2028. This research project investigates monosynaptic connections between the amygdala and the Prebotzinger Complex (PreBotC), the brainstem respiratory control center, with a focus on understanding how inhibitory pathways from the central amygdala may suppress breathing during threat-related freezing behavior and potentially contribute to seizure-related apnea in sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) cases.

The grant supports fundamental neuroscience research conducted in Virginia that aims to elucidate previously unknown mechanisms linking threat assessment circuitry in the amygdala to respiratory control. The project will employ neuroanatomical and electrophysiological approaches to map and characterize the CEA-PreBotC inhibitory pathway and test hypotheses regarding how amygdala activation suppresses breathing during both behavioral threat responses and seizure-induced events. These research deliverables are intended to advance understanding of the brainstem-amygdala circuit and provide foundational knowledge applicable to understanding neurological conditions affecting respiratory control.