Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc., received a $1.297 million 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 on May 8, 2026, with a completion date of April 30, 2029. This research initiative investigates neuroinflammatory epitranscriptomic mechanisms in Parkinson's disease, specifically examining the role of the ALKBH5 demethylase enzyme in regulating neuroinflammatory responses triggered by alpha-synuclein aggregates. The research will employ mechanistic studies to determine how phosphorylation of ALKBH5 by protein kinase C delta modulates the enzyme's subcellular localization and demethylase activity, with implications for understanding cytokine and chemokine regulation in microglial cells affected by Parkinson's disease pathology.

The funded research addresses a critical gap in understanding how N6-methyladenosine (m6A) mRNA modifications regulate immune inflammatory factors in Parkinson's disease neurodegeneration. By building upon preliminary findings showing ALKBH5 upregulation in both animal models and postmortem human Parkinson's disease brains, this project will establish fundamental knowledge regarding the epitranscriptomic regulation of neuroinflammatory processes, potentially opening new therapeutic avenues for neurological disease intervention.