Monday, January 19, 2026 1/19/2026

Diversity Supplement for a STEM diversity trainee in the lab

Award Number: RF1MH132591
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2023
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2026

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Diversity Supplement for a STEM diversity trainee in the lab - Project Summary To determine the anatomical basis of complex neural behavior, it is critical to have the ability to trace more than one circuit simultaneously in the same animal. That’s because complex animal behaviors or neural computation should be understood through the interaction of more than one circuit – cooperative, antagonistic, or else. In addition, it is necessary to rapidly capture the connectivity information in the dynamically changing brains during development and learning. Engineered G-deleted rabies is a current state-of-art method to retrogradely trace the presynaptic input neurons of a defined cell type. However, it remains unfeasible to trace more than one neural circuit simultaneously. In addition, the current approach using AAV helpers and rabies requires several weeks for tracing. In this proposed research, we will overcome these disadvantages by developing two novel trans-synaptic viral tracer systems: SWORD: Sendai with Orthogonal Rabies Duplex Tracing (Aim 1) and a rapid TRIO/cTRIO: cell-type specific tracing the relationship between input and output (Aim 2). This research is significant because these new methods will allow more comprehensive analysis of neural connectivity in more than one circuit and in more diverse context such as the developing brain where distinct synaptic networks emerge and neural plasticity such as learning across many model species. The proposed research is innovative, because we are developing and validating technically innovative solutions, SWORD and rapid TRIO/cTRIO, to overcome the limitations of the current state-of-the art tracing method. These viral-genetic tools will have a positive and broad impact on the neuroscience field as it will enhance our understanding of neural circuit organization for the complex behaviors and help to identify the circuit-specific therapeutic targets to cure brain disorders.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $183,903 )
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA CRUZ	1156 HIGH ST	SANTA CRUZ	CA	95064	SANTA CRUZ	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	4/30/2024	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$183,903
														Subtotal = $183,903

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $1,129,268 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA CRUZ	1156 HIGH ST	SANTA CRUZ	CA	95064	SANTA CRUZ	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	3/28/2023	NEW	$1,129,268
														Subtotal = $1,129,268

Grand Total All Awards = $1,313,171

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Diversity Supplement for a STEM diversity trainee in the lab

Award Number: RF1MH132591

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2023

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2026

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