Federal Project Grant Summary

The University of Delaware received a $392,495 Project Grant award dated July 1, 2026, from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859). The award supports fundamental research into the mechanisms of extracellular vesicle (EV) biogenesis and uptake through February 28, 2031. The project delivers research findings and novel methodological tools that advance understanding of how cells release and utilize extracellular vesicles—small membrane-bound particles that mediate intercellular transport of bioactive molecules including proteins, RNA, and metabolites. This research has direct applications to understanding disease propagation in neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, and kidney diseases.

The research deliverables include development of specialized Caenorhabditis elegans model strains with fluorescently-tagged EV cargoes and advanced imaging methods capable of quantitating EV shedding from specific neuronal cilia, measuring cargo abundance in releasing cilia, tracking glial uptake of EVs, and assessing cellular responses to EV shedding and uptake. The project investigates how conserved genes and cellular stress impact EV release, uptake, and function, utilizing live-organism imaging to capture EV biogenesis in native cellular environments. These research products contribute to the NIGMS mission of supporting basic research that increases understanding of biological processes and establishes the scientific foundation for advances in disease diagnosis and treatment.