Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) awarded The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York $250,328 under the Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders (CFDA 93.853) to conduct a two-year research project from February 6, 2026, through January 31, 2028. The research examines post-transcriptional sex differences in neurological disease by investigating how RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) regulate their targets in a sex-specific manner. The project will employ a multifaceted approach utilizing both mouse models and human neurons to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying sex-specific vulnerability to neurological disorders.

The primary deliverables include identification of unique regulatory mechanisms governing gene expression and cellular function in the male and female brain, characterization of behavioral and molecular changes associated with sex-specific neurological vulnerabilities, and evidence-based insights to inform development of targeted therapeutic interventions tailored to the distinct needs of male and female patients. The research will be conducted at Columbia University's Health Sciences Division in New York, New York, and is expected to contribute fundamental knowledge to NINDS's mission of reducing the burden of neurological disease through enhanced understanding of brain and nervous system function.