Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Mayo Clinic Jacksonville received a $1.88M Project Grant award 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), effective May 20, 2026 through April 30, 2029. The grant supports research investigating enhanced PINK1 kinase activity as a therapeutic strategy against alpha-synuclein pathology and neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease. The research employs a recently discovered PINK1 gain-of-function variant (PINK1G411A) to determine whether increased mitophagy—the selective degradation of damaged mitochondria—can mitigate alpha-synuclein accumulation, Lewy body formation, and associated neurodegeneration.

The project delivers fundamental and translational research designed to advance understanding of the interaction between mitochondrial quality control pathways and alpha-synuclein-related pathology, two major disease mechanisms implicated in early-onset Parkinson's disease and related neurodegenerative disorders. Research outputs are expected to clarify the specificity and potential synergism between mitophagy enhancement and Lewy body pathology, establishing proof-of-concept for whether enhancing PINK1-mediated mitophagy can serve as a viable therapeutic strategy. This research supports NINDS's mission to reduce the burden of neurological disease through investigation of fundamental nervous system function and development of novel therapeutic approaches.