Grant News

August 7, 2026

Christopher G. Vecsey (Neuroscience) Awarded NIH R15 Grant

Christopher G. Vecsey, professor of neuroscience, received his third 3-year Academic Research Enhancement Award (R15) from the National Institutes of Health. This new award, entitled "Investigation of Neuropeptide Signaling Mechanisms that Control Sleep," and totaling $538,641, will allow Dr. Vecsey and his team to establish how sNPF neurons function within distinct sleep regulatory networks in the nervous system, expanding our understanding of the mechanisms that control sleep and wakefulness at the molecular and circuit levels. In turn, this knowledge will provide a basis for the design of more effective treatments of human sleep abnormalities. This new award will support one half-time research technician and three undergraduates to conduct summer research project for 10 weeks each year in Dr. Vecsey's lab.