Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Washington received a $427,625 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 19, 2026, with completion scheduled for April 30, 2028. The grant funds fundamental neuroscience research conducted in Seattle, Washington, to identify and characterize genes whose expression patterns correlate with axon length in neurons. Using the fruit fly (Drosophila) model system, the research team will employ single-cell transcriptomics, in vivo synaptic connectivity analysis, and behavioral diagnostics to systematically identify molecular markers and genes associated with length-dependent axon vulnerability and degeneration.

This research directly addresses a significant gap in understanding why certain neurodegenerative disorders preferentially affect neurons with long or complex axonal structures. The project deliverables include identification of axon length-dependent gene expression programs, functional characterization of genes that contribute to length-dependent axon degeneration, and mechanistic insights into the molecular basis of axon vulnerability across multiple neurodegenerative conditions. The findings are anticipated to advance fundamental knowledge applicable to understanding disease pathophysiology and may inform future therapeutic development strategies for neurological disorders disproportionately affecting long-axon neurons.