Award
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke 5U01NS136458-03
Unmasking neuromodulatory control of locomotion
Recipient
Washington University, Saint Louis, MO
Award Amount
$1,521,852.00
Ceiling
$1,521,852.00
Awarded
July 07, 2026
Identifier
5U01NS136458-03
The award funds research to understand how dopamine and serotonin neuromodulators control spinal locomotor circuits in zebrafish, using imaging, genetic manipulation, and computational modeling to reveal their roles in movement behaviors.
Description
This project aims to elucidate the role of neuromodulators in locomotion using advanced imaging, genetic, and computational techniques in zebrafish models. The research will measure where and when neuromodulators like dopamine and serotonin are released in the spinal cord during locomotion, identify neuron types that respond, block neuromodulator effects to study movement changes, and develop computational models to predict circuit and behavior outcomes.