Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Virginia received a $242,250 Project Grant award 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, effective February 1, 2026 through January 31, 2028. This award supports a two-year investigative research project examining myeloid cell regulation of cerebrovascular tone in the brain, with research activities conducted in Charlottesville, Virginia.

The funded research will advance understanding of how specific brain immune cells—including microglia, border-associated macrophages, and perivascular macrophages—maintain baseline vascular structure and blood flow while responding to physiological demands. Using longitudinal two-photon in vivo imaging approaches, the investigation will distinguish the roles of microglia at capillaries and perivascular macrophages at arterioles and venules, with particular focus on cyclooxygenase-1 (COX1) signaling in vascular regulation. The research directly addresses gaps in understanding myeloid cell dysfunction relevant to neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, where genome-wide association studies identify microglial-specific genes as genetic risk loci. The project outcomes will contribute foundational knowledge regarding vascular regulation mechanisms critical to brain health and neurological disease prevention.