Grants

Health Resources and Services Administration

Delta Rural Integrated Health Network Program

NSF

Mountains serve as the water towers of the world, providing critical water supplies to billions of people. Mountains capture precipitation and channel it downstream, thereby regulating water availability and buffering lowland communities against water shortages. However, the timescales of mountain block recharge to lowland communities remain largely unknown due to observational challenges. This undermines our ability to develop robust impact assessments and adaptation pathways for vulnerable downstream communities. This project is addressing the knowledge gap by examining how groundwater in mountain blocks contributes to downstream water supplies. The field-based study leverages a rich hydrogeological dataset, including borehole networks, geophysical surveys, and records of groundwater dynamics. Insights gained at the field location will be applicable to other mountain regions across the world. Mountain block recharge is the flow of groundwater from mountainous areas to adjacent lowland aquifers. Recent research indicates that deep mountain block recharge (greater than 5 km) is a significant component of both the mountain and lowland water cycles, providing resilience to water shortages during drought. But, studies of mountain hydrology often ignore groundwater flow and assume that the crystalline basement rock is impermeable. This study will quantify the depth and fluxes of groundwater flow in mountain blocks. The collaborative international project will leverage established partnerships and develop new partnerships with universities and natural resource agencies, ensuring effective pathways for impact across research, industry, and policy sectors. The international team brings extensive experience working across research, societal, and policy domains. This award was made possible through the NSF/GEO-UKRI/NERC lead agency opportunity. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NIAID - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Project Summary Effector functions of NK cells are regulated through a balance of activating and inhibitory receptor interactions. NK inhibitory receptors of the Ly49 (mouse) and KIR (human) families have been well characterized with both Ly49C and KIR being dominant players in NK cell inhibition and licensing. Like many of the NK receptors, Ly49C and KIR binds to MHC Class I molecules to inhibit NK cell effector functions such as lysis of tumor target cells. The identified binding site for Ly49C and H-2Kb MHC class I occurs at the base of the MHC class I molecule with no direct contacts to the peptide MHC interface that binds T cell receptors. The binding site for KIR2DL3 for HLA- C1 has also been identified and there are crystal structures for both NK inhibitory receptors. As innate germline encoded receptor, Ly49C and KIR2DL3 binding to MHC class I molecules would be consistent with its function for assessing missing MHC on the target cell surface. However, early research discovered a puzzling level of peptide specificity to the molecules that regulated NK cell cytotoxicity. For Ly49C, a series of follow-up analyses has for the most part been unable to provide a clear explanation for the effects of peptide bound to MHC at a distinctly different site. Even crystallographic studies failed to identify peptide-dependent differences that could alter Ly49C interaction with MHC class I and NK cell biology. Based on our experience in assessing differential T cell receptor interactions with peptide:MHC, we propose to investigate whether differential bond lifetimes, and not affinity, explain the function of Ly49C and KIR inhibitory receptors to control NK cell function. Our preliminary findings have identified dramatic differences in the characteristics of the bond between Ly49C/KIR and their respective peptide:MHC molecules. Our proposal will build on this preliminary data to provide mechanistic clarity on how Ly49C or KIR2DL3 distinguishes different peptide:MHC molecules. These innovative insights into how NK inhibitory receptors can sense different peptides presented embedded in MHC class I would dramatically shift our understanding of their function from a simple on/off switch to a more sophisticated receptor system dependent on cellular forces to regulate NK cell function.

European Commission - HORIZON

Demand-led innovation in security. Call: Civil Security for Society 2026. Programme: HORIZON. Keywords: Demand driven innovation, Industrial innovation policy, Innovative procurement, SME support, Security, Technology commercialisation, Technology development. Open call from the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

NIA - National Institute on Aging

Project Summary It has been estimated that over 1.4 million people in the United States suffer from Lewy body dementia (LBD), including both dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) or Parkinson's disease with dementia (PDD). Patients with LBD suffer from cognitive decline, sometimes linked to Alzheimer's disease (AD), and the motor and behavioral changes seen in Parkinson's disease (PD). Unfortunately, the diagnosis of LBD can be difficult, particularly in those DLB patients that present with cognitive impairment prior to motor or marked behavioral changes. While diagnostic biomarkers for LBD have been limited, recent developments have suggested that determining Lewy body pathology (LBP) and AD pathology change may be possible with biofluid biomarkers. Until recently, impediments to biomarker development in LBD have included small subject numbers, a lack of systematic patient characterization and a failure to perform longitudinal follow up with autopsy. Both AD and PD have benefited from a number of large “consortiums” that have advanced research by leveraging the strengths of several groups of research centers to combine efforts with standardized approaches to the study of the disease. One good example is the Alzheimer's Disease Centers (ADC) program, funded by the National Institute on Aging, where over 30 research centers across the United States have agreed to a standardized approach to the diagnosis and characterization of patients with AD. Other similar programs include the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS), Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Parkinson's Disease Biomarker Program (PDBP), and the Parkinson's Progression Marker Initiative (PPMI). Fortunately, the latter two PD programs have included more systematic clinical assessments and collection of biofluids and imaging data relevant to cognition in PD. Until funding of the Dementia with Lewy Body Consortium (DLBC), no similar US-based program had existed. The objective of this DLBC renewal proposal is to utilize and expand the DLBC cohort with additional subjects enrolled, continued longitudinal systematic assessments, collection of biofluids and imaging data, and ultimately autopsy. As a more hypothesis-driven renewal proposal, the DLBC will utilize the longitudinal data, imaging and biofluid collection from DLBC participants to focus on diagnosis, progression and clinical variability. Two new Co-Principal Investigators and a number of new co- investigators and collaborators will join the DLBC to enhance the additional focus on the new hypothesis-driven aims.

Coventry

Demo and Debris Removal 2 Bldgs. and General Landscaping Camp Creaser

DECD

Demo, remediation for affordable housing

NIMH - National Institute of Mental Health

ABSTRACT The Brain Image Library (BIL) serves as a central repository for advanced microscopy data, ensuring valuable neuroscience datasets are preserved and shared following FAIR principles. While BIL successfully handles traditional microscopy data, it currently lacks specialized tools for spatial transcriptomics datasets, which present unique computational challenges due to their high dimensionality and complex metadata structures. This project will develop essential computational infrastructure to make spatial transcriptomics data in BIL more accessible and analyzable for the broader neuroscience community. We will implement four key components: (1) standardization of data submission and storage using the community-supported Spatialdata format, enabling efficient handling of large-scale molecular data with coordinate system transformations and alignment capabilities, (2) development of an intuitive browser-based visualization system that allows researchers to explore gene expression patterns through interactive scatter plots and maps with density-based rendering, (3) creation of a natural language search interface leveraging Large Language Models for complex queries across molecular and anatomical parameters, and (4) integration of foundational models for automated cell type annotation and metadata generation. By standardizing data organization and providing intuitive exploration tools, this work will maximize the reuse potential of these valuable datasets and lay the groundwork for future cross-modality analyses that combine molecular and imaging data to generate new biological insights.

NIA - National Institute on Aging

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Redwood Neuro aims to revolutionize Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) diagnostics through the development of the SiMoLiSA platform, a pioneering technology designed to deliver a detection capability previously only achievable through high- end single molecule counting technologies. This innovative platform offers an open, more accessible immunoassay approach akin to ELISA yet one that surpasses the performance of the most advanced single molecule counting technologies in terms of sensitivity and specificity at a fraction of the cost. Unlike conventional systems that often require expensive, proprietary equipment, SiMoLiSA utilizes affordable, widely available consumables and simple equipment. This makes it easier to implement and scale in a variety of laboratory settings, from academic research facilities to clinical diagnostic centers. By breaking down the cost and complexity barriers associated with advanced diagnostic technologies, SiMoLiSA enables broader access to cutting-edge detection capabilities, making it a game- changer for disease diagnostics and biomarker research. By employing our proprietary Single-Molecule Linked Surrogate Assay, SiMoLiSA will enhance the detection of critical AD biomarkers, such as p-tau proteins and β-amyloid, with unprecedented sensitivity and affordability. Unlike current high-cost ultrasensitive systems, SiMoLiSA is an open platform that uses cost-effective materials and innovative techniques to detect biomarkers at femtogram/milliter (fg/ml) levels—capabilities traditionally reserved for the most advanced and expensive platforms such as single molecule counting assay. This project will execute two primary phases: firstly, establishing a comprehensive 7-biomarker panel (p-tau-181, p-tau-217, p-tau-231, total-tau, Aβ42, Aβ40, and NfL) for AD and validating it against state-of-art immunoassay platform using contrive human serum samples and demonstrate an ability to detect AD biomarkers at femtogram/milliter (fg/ml) levels and over 6-log dynamic range in a highly reproducible manner (R2 > 0.98); secondly, rigorously testing this technology with CSF and plasma clinical samples to confirm its performance and reliability in real-world settings in a CLIA-certified lab. By making early and accurate AD diagnosis more accessible, SiMoLiSA not only promises to enhance clinical outcomes for patients by enabling earlier intervention but also aims to reduce overall healthcare costs associated with the management of Alzheimer’s Disease. This aligns directly with public health goals by addressing the growing need for effective diagnostic tools in the aging population.

NHGRI - National Human Genome Research Institute

PROJECT SUMMARY Identifying and promoting biomedical research practices, including responsible data stewardship and analysis, that advance broad public health benefit and healthcare equity is a societal priority and central ethical concern for researchers and policymakers. For the genomic data science community, new NIH-supported cloud data sharing and analysis platforms promise to `democratize' data use, enabling a more diverse range of researchers to access large-scale genomic and linked health data and, it is hoped, widen the range of research questions that can be answered using such data. While cloud-based data sharing theoretically promises to widen access to genomic and related biomedical data, because researchers need no longer rely on high- performance computing infrastructure at their local institution, the actual uptake and use of data held by these platforms remains uninvestigated. Nor do we currently understand what investigators from underserved backgrounds and/or underrepresented institutions (whom we refer to collectively here as “underrepresented”) perceive as the most important opportunities for, and challenges to, accessing these new resources. Examining how cloud-based data sharing and analysis platforms enhance the uptake and use of genomic data by diverse researchers and institutions will help these new resources better achieve their promise to promote true data science equity. The overall goal of this project is, therefore, to examine the role that NIH cloud-based data sharing and analysis platforms play in promoting a more diverse range of users and research uses, thereby democratizing genomic data science. Specifically, we will work closely with an Expert Advisory Group to address the following Aims: Aim 1. Describe and critically assess the current impact of NIH cloud-based data sharing and analysis platform availability on patterns of genomic data access and use; Aim 2. Compare the perspectives of different categories of underrepresented data scientists on accessing and analyzing genomic and linked health data on cloud-based platforms; and Aim 3. Convene expert advisors, platform developers, and other interested parties to discuss findings and propose potential approaches to promote more inclusive and equitable cloud-based genomic data access and use. The proposed in-depth, interdisciplinary, mixed methods investigation will generate novel data about the ways that NIH-supported cloud data sharing and analysis platforms are changing the genomic data sciences landscape and provide essential insights into overcoming challenges which may be interfering with the promise of these new data sharing mechanisms.

NSF

Adoption and fosterage are life-altering events that arise in diverse contexts in the United States and across the globe. Whether and in what ways the welfare of adopted and fostered children improves outside their natal environment are subjects of much debate. Important factors affecting the welfare of adopted and fostered children include: the circumstances that lead to adoption and fosterage; differences between the activities and treatment of adopted and fostered children and of biological children; and societal acceptance versus stigma surrounding adoption and fosterage. Understanding how these factors interact to facilitate or inhibit successful outcomes for adopted and fostered children is critical for tailoring family programs to suit the individual needs of the many children who are reared primarily by non-natal parents in the United States. This research will be conducted in the Melanesian island nation of Vanuatu, where adoption and fosterage are commonplace and arise in contexts comparable to adoption and fosterage among minority populations in the United States. The research team, including a postdoctoral scholar, two ni-Vanuatu graduate students, and an international team of highly trained PIs, will investigate the causes and consequences of adoption and fosterage using an evolutionary framework that seeks to understand how adoption and fosterage contribute to familial success. The researchers will use a diverse set of methods that leverage the significant variation in these practices in Vanuatu to evaluate which specific factors or sets of factors best predict differences in child outcomes. Specifically, the investigators will use questionnaires, interviews, dietary and activity recall assessments, and anthropometric measurements of health to describe the circumstances surrounding adoption and fosterage and to tie such circumstances to differences in child health and well-being. Findings from the research will provide insight into tailoring support for adoptive and foster families by examining how social and demographic factors contribute to variation in the welfare of adopted and fostered children as compared to their biological counterparts. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

City of Kansas City

Housing

NSF

Ocean mesoscale eddies are ubiquitous features of the global ocean that strongly influence the ocean’s physics, chemistry, and biology; they influence other components of the Earth system via air-sea and sea-ice interactions and are crucial drivers of marine heat waves. The project applies modern spatial-statistical methods to an extensive data set of satellite observations of sea surface height. This will result in advancement of our understanding of the physical oceanography of those eddies, and of their representation in global ocean models, and of their changes over time. This project will introduce new and comprehensive statistical analyses of eddy trajectories and characteristics. The project will use high-resolution Earth system simulations to assess and understand internal variability in the eddy population, as well as to predict decadal to centennial changes in the population. Standard practice for comparing the population of eddies in models and in observations uses simple statistics like eddy kinetic energy and SSH variability. The use of such basic statistics can mask important differences between the modeled and observed eddy populations. This project will use the newly developed extensions of the statistical description of eddy populations to precisely quantify the differences between observed and modeled eddy populations. The project will then, on the basis of this precise comparison, work to assess the fidelity of different models and to improve the representation of eddies in the models. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

DEEP

Demolish and Replace Vanacore FHC

DECD

Demolish buildings located on the former Norwich State Hospital property

City of Kansas City

Community Health & Wellness

Town of Hurlock

Demolition

City of Cambridge

Demolition

Town of Hurlock

Demolition

City of Cambridge

Demolition

Fulton

Demolition and Asbestos Removal

DEEP

Demolition of a town building containing lead and asbestos and construction of a parking lot

Theater for the New City Foundation, Inc.

Demolish existing areas to receive a new 30 LF thermal Glass storefront inclusive of interior vestibule and installation of a 30 LF x 20'D sculptural façade art piece consisting of 75 theater chairs with approximately 20 coats and other miscellaneous arti

European Commission - HORIZON

Demonstrating and deploying innovative collection, sorting-for-reuse and repair systems for textiles at city/region level (Circular Cities and Regions Initiative topic). Call: Call 01 - single stage (2026). Programme: HORIZON. Keywords: Business model innovation, Circular economy, Climate change mitigation, Competitiveness, innovation, research and development, Design innovation, Ecodesign, Life Cycle Analysis, Environment, Environment, Pollution & Climate, Environment, resources and sustainability, Environmental change and society, Environmental protection, Greenhouse gases, Inclusion, Industrial innovation policy, Industrial sectoral change, Innovation policy, Innovation strategies, Innovation systems, Knowledge and Technology transfer, Knowledge transfer, Natural resources and environmental economics, New business opportunities, New industrial value chains, Organizational innovation, Polymers and plastics, Process innovation, Product innovation, Public sector innovation, Regional development, Regulatory framework for innovation, Related to industrial policy, Related to regional development, Resources efficiency, Social Networks, Social innovation, Sustainable design (for recycling, for environment, eco-design), Sustainable innovation, Technological innovation, Textiles, Textiles including synthetic dyes, colours, fibres, Urban studies, regional studies, Waste, Waste management, Waste recycling. Open call from the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.