Funding & Awards

2019-2020 Neuroscience Pilot Awards

In this year, a significant portion of our pilot funding was used to underwrite operations in our Cell Imaging and Neurobehavior Cores and to provide “micro-pilots” grants to multiple Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute faculty so that they could access our Core Facilities free of charge. Those receiving subsidized access or pilot support included Drs. Randy Blakely, Lucia Carvelli, Erik Duboue, Tanja Godenschwege, Kathleen Guthrie, Alex Keene, Johanna Kowalko, Michael Lu, Rod Murphey, Ning Quan, Janet Robishaw, Robert Stackman, Larry Toll, Henriette van Praag, Carmen Varela, Jianning Wei and Jang-Yen Wu.

In addition to support for core facilities use, the Pilot Program provided two awards to the following investigators:

Vijaya Iragavarapu, Ph.D., Andrew Oleinikov, Ph.D., Paul Gresch, Ph.D.
Effects of Microcystin-LR on Health: Alterations in Placenta, Immune and Nervous Systems
(I-BRAIN collaboration with HBOI)

Teresa Wilcox, Ph.D.
Near-Infrared Spectroscopy for the Analysis of Cortical Activity in Social and Cognitive Behavior

2018-2019 Neuroscience Pilot Awards

The Neuroscience Pilot Award Program has granted eight research projects a total of $95,000 in pilot awards to enhance faculty research capability and productivity, with the long-term goal of stimulating growth of Florida Atlantic extramural neuroscience funding. The 2018 award-winning projects are:

Andrea Cippitelli, Ph.D.
The Role of Nicotinic Receptors in the Dorsal Root Ganglia Model of Neuropathic Pain

Ken Dawson-Scully, Ph.D.
Identification of the Mechanism of Action of a Novel and Potent Neuroprotective Agent Inspired by the Natural Product Vitisinol D

Tanja Godenschwege, Ph.D.
In Vivo Functional Characterization of the Drosophila Attractin Homolog

Kailiang Jia, Ph.D.
Characterization of Neuronal Food Signaling Pathways that Control C. elegans Dauer Recovery

Anna Knapinska, Ph.D.
Identification of the Intracellular Roles of MMP-9 in Multiple Sclerosis

Akihiko Ozawa, Ph.D.
Development of a Mouse Genetic Model to Investigate the Plasticity of NOP Receptor Circuitry in Acute Pain

Robert Stackman, Ph.D.
Rescuing Attention and Memory in a Mouse Model of Schizophrenia via Manipulation of SK Channels

Emmanuele Tognoli, Ph.D. and Eric Engeberg, Ph.D.
Electrophysiological Neuromarkers as Signals of Neurorobotic Control

2017-2018 Neuroscience Pilot Awards

Four research projects were granted an estimated $20,000 each.

Rindy Anderson, Ph.D., Biological Sciences, College of Science
Glucocorticoid Mechanisms Linking Cognition and Mate Choice

Wen Shen, Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences
Glycinergic Mechanisms in Retinal Receptive Field Organization

Robert Vertes, Ph.D., Psychology and Complex Systems and Brain Sciences, College of Science
Ceylon Isgor, Ph.D., Biomedical Science, College of Medicine
Neural Activity of the Nucleus Pontis Oralis of the Brainstem Leads to Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy

Jianning Wei, Ph.D., Biomedical Science, College of Medicine
Sarah Du, Ph.D., Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
Lysosomal Positioning in the Pathogenesis of Huntington's Disease