Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) awarded a Project Grant of $1,766,366 to Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, with an award date of May 6, 2026 and completion date of April 30, 2029. Under the Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders (CFDA 93.853), the awardee will conduct research investigating the impact of environmental factors on Lewy Body Dementia (LBD), a neurodegenerative disorder affecting over one million Americans. The research will produce rigorous, evidence-based identification of modifiable environmental factors that contribute to LBD exacerbation and characterization of vulnerable subpopulations at higher risk.

The project will deliver research outputs through two complementary approaches: epidemiological analysis leveraging nationwide Medicare claims data (including over 550,000 LBD hospitalizations from 2000-2020) linked to environmental exposure data such as air pollutants (PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide, ozone), pesticide exposure, and weather variables; and mechanistic studies using an in vitro LBD model system to evaluate disease susceptibility to environmental factors. This integrated methodology combining advanced causal inference statistical methods with laboratory-based mechanistic investigation will provide actionable insights into environmental contributions to LBD pathogenesis and identify high-risk populations for targeted interventions.