Federal Grant Award Summary

Albert Einstein College of Medicine received a $462,000 Project Grant 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 May 5, 2026, with completion targeted for April 30, 2028. The research project investigates astrocyte response to glymphatic shear forces, with the primary objective of quantifying how astrocyte endfeet respond to mechanical forces along the glia limitans and determining the transduction mechanisms contributing to brain hemorrhage and cerebral edema.

The deliverables include experimental research utilizing calcium imaging in microfluidic devices, pharmacological and genetic deletion studies, brain slice imaging analysis, and super-resolution microscopy to localize endfoot proteins and their interactions in infarct regions. The research specifically examines astrocyte sensitivity to shear stress mediated by the mechanosensor Piezo1 in both basal and reactive states using mouse and human astrocyte models. Findings are expected to advance understanding of glymphatic flow regulation and clearance of amyloid and cellular debris from brain extracellular space, with potential therapeutic implications for restoring normal glymphatic function in aging and neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.