# Nutrient-dependent regulation of neural stem cell proliferation and neural circuit formation

> **NIH NIH R35** · UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA · 2024 · $13,686

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Parent Award: Our brain is composed of an immense diversity of neurons that are molecularly,
morphologically, and functionally distinct. Understanding how this immense diversity of neuron types is
generated and organized to allow us and other adult animals to carry out such a vast array of complex tasks
and behaviors is of great importance. By far, most of the neurons in our adult brains are generated during
development, either directly or indirectly from the cell divisions of a defined but, rather heterogeneous
population of neural stem cells. Molecular differences exist among neural stem cells based on their location
and neural stem cell themselves can change their intrinsic genetic programs over time. Research outlined in
this proposal is geared towards better understanding of how neural stem cell extrinsic factors integrate with
neural stem cell intrinsic factors to control numbers and types of neurons produced through time and space
during development. Here, we use the genetically tractable model organism, Drosophila melanogaster, to
uncover the genetic pathways and molecular mechanisms regulating neural stem cell proliferation decisions,
from quiescence to proliferation, and then termination once development is complete. Our research goals
include gaining a better understanding of how dietary nutrient availability affects neural stem cell proliferation
decisions. Through genetic and single cell sequencing techniques, we are working to identify the intrinsic
differences among these neural stem cell types that distinguish nutrient-dependence versus nutrient-
independence. We are also working on determining how dietary nutrients consumed during development
regulate neural stem cell temporal programs and thus types and numbers of neurons produced. Altogether, the
research outlined here will advance our understanding of neural stem cell proliferation control during
development and how dietary nutrient availability affects types and numbers of neurons produced. These
insights should stimulate new discoveries in translational stem cell research in the context of normal
development and disease states.
Supplement request: In this proposal, we seek to better understand the extrinsic, systemic cues that regulate
neural stem cell proliferation decisions during development. This award will support technical training and
career development activities for a PhD student as the student pursues their dissertation work and prepares for
an upcoming NRSA F31 application.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10851510
- **Project number:** 3R35GM141886-03S3
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Sarah Elizabeth Siegrist
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $13,686
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2021-07-01 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10851510

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10851510, Nutrient-dependent regulation of neural stem cell proliferation and neural circuit formation (3R35GM141886-03S3). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10851510. Licensed CC0.

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