Federal Grant Award Summary

The Reed Institute received a $430,383 Project Grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859), awarded May 1, 2026, with completion targeted for February 28, 2031. This research initiative investigates the molecular mechanisms regulating non-muscle myosin II (NMII) contractility, a critical cellular process with broad implications for development and disease. The primary research deliverable involves characterizing a novel NMII binding protein, Split Discs (SPDI), and its human homolog SPECC1L through a combination of biochemical characterization and cell biology experiments. The research addresses gaps in understanding NMII regulation beyond established phosphorylation mechanisms and has direct relevance to cranial-facial pathologies associated with neural crest cell migration.

The award supports fundamental basic research that will advance understanding of biological processes governing cellular contractility, contributing to the broader NIGMS mission of establishing foundations for improvements in disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Research will be conducted at the Reed Institute's Portland, Oregon facility, integrating the institute's research capabilities with its educational mission through involvement of undergraduate researchers in this complex molecular biology investigation.