# Signaling Mechanisms Underlying Epilepsy and Autism Comorbidity

> **NIH NIH R15** · BAYLOR UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $75,175

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
This diversity supplement requests support to facilitate the training of an outstanding and
talented Hispanic American male graduate student, David Narvaiz. This is a proposed
supplement to 2R15NS088776 titled "Signaling Mechanisms Underlying Epilepsy and Autism
Comorbidity"; PI: Dr. Joaquin Lugo. David was admitted into the Psychology PhD program at
Baylor University and started in the Fall of 2019. David is very interested in epilepsy research.
As noted in David's personal statement, when he graduated from the Lamar University, after he
completed his military service. He was able to conduct research as a laboratory technician then
as a McNair scholar. Clearly, this accomplishment was significant, and being admitted into the
highly competitive Psychology graduate program is also a proud accomplishment. Further,
David excelled in his undergraduate classes. He has a genuine interest in understanding the
neurobiology underlying early-life seizures and this research/career development plan is
designed to ensure that David will receive extensive mentoring from Dr. Lugo with the goal of
acquiring and developing the skills necessary for a lifelong career in the biomedical sciences,
which is David’s career objective.
The Specific Aim of this Diversity Supplement is to provide graduate training for David Navariz
while extending the research direction of Specific Aims 1 and 2 of the Parent Grant (
R01
AA019682
). The projects in this Supplement are designed to assess the role of cytokines and
changes in PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling after early-life seizures. The results of these studies will
provide a richer and more comprehensive understanding of neuroadaptive changes in
metabotropic glutamate receptors (the parent grant focuses Group I mGluR) that occur as a
consequence of chronic/heightened elevations in the stress hormone CORT and their role in
modulating sensitivity to the interoceptive effects of alcohol. In addition to research technique
development, this supplement also focuses on a mentored career development plan that will
increase his scientific knowledge base, focus on the development of strong writing and
presentation skills, and emphasize collegial interactions to foster his professionalism. In sum,
the goal of this Supplement is to support the acquisition and development of skills necessary for
a lifelong career in the biomedical sciences, which is David’s career objective

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10049479
- **Project number:** 3R15NS088776-02A1S1
- **Recipient organization:** BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** JOAQUIN N LUGO
- **Activity code:** R15 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $75,175
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-01-01 → 2021-12-14

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10049479

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10049479, Signaling Mechanisms Underlying Epilepsy and Autism Comorbidity (3R15NS088776-02A1S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10049479. Licensed CC0.

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