Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) awarded the Regents of the University of Michigan a Project Grant of $419,920 under the Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders program (CFDA 93.853). The award, dated March 4, 2026, with a completion date of January 31, 2028, funds research investigating sleep-dependent memory consolidation mechanisms, specifically examining how neocortical-hippocampal coordination facilitates the consolidation of contextual fear memories in mice. The research employs advanced genetic tools to study synaptic and circuit-level plasticity changes and information transfer between the entorhinal cortex and hippocampal dentate gyrus during sleep states.

The funded project will generate research outputs including empirical data on sleep-regulated corticohippocampal communication, identification of neuronal engram reactivation patterns essential for memory storage, and mechanistic insights into how sleep deprivation disrupts memory consolidation processes. These findings will advance fundamental understanding of brain plasticity and memory formation, with potential implications for addressing memory-related neurological disorders and conditions affecting sleep-dependent cognitive function. The research will be conducted at the University of Michigan's Ann Arbor campus.