Neural Ensembles & Used Substances (NExUS) Collaboratory: Building a Multimodal Inventory of Cell Ensembles Encoding the Effects of Addictive Substances
This grant supports building a comprehensive database of brain cell groups altered by addictive substances, integrating diverse data types to better understand addiction and promote collaboration in neuroscience research.
Funder: National Institutes of Health
Due Dates (Anticipated): October 2026 (Full application deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: Up to $700,000 per award; 4 awards expected; duration and total program funding not specified.
Summary: Supports collaborative research to build a multimodal inventory of neural cell ensembles altered by addictive substances, integrating cell-level data and advancing understanding of addiction mechanisms.
Description
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health, anticipates supporting the expansion of the NExUS Collaboratory. The program aims to build a comprehensive knowledgebase of neural cell populations and computations affected by substance use, focusing on neurobehavioral states characteristic of addiction or resilience. Funded projects will:
- Collect and share detailed datasets on neural cell populations responsive to substance-related experiences.
- Integrate cell-resolved activity data with modalities such as molecular identity, epigenetic state, morphology, spatial localization, and connectivity.
- Develop scalable tools for analyzing and visualizing ensemble composition and geometry.
- Test and inform models of how cells or motifs are recruited into neural coding ensembles.
- Foster coordination and synergy among NExUS and other cell atlasing initiatives, including outreach, data standards, analytics, and reference taxonomies.
The funding mechanism is a Cooperative Agreement, emphasizing close collaboration with NIDA program staff.
