Feinstein Institutes Secures $4.9 Million in NIH Grants for Two Studies

Northwell Health’s Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research has received $4.9 million in new multi-year grant funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to tackle two of medicine’s most pressing challenges—acute inflammation and Alzheimer’s disease. These monetary awards will fuel two distinct research projects focused on unraveling fundamental biological mechanisms of both conditions.

The two grants have been awarded to scientist teams, including Monowar Aziz, Ph.D., associate professor; Archna Sharma, Ph.D., assistant professor; and Ping Wang, M.D., professor and chief scientific officer at the Feinstein Institutes. Their work aims to deepen scientific understanding and pave the way for new therapeutic interventions.

“The funding from these two NIH grants is instrumental in supporting our investigations into the basic cellular mechanisms across major diseases,” Dr. Wang said. “Whether exploring B-1a cells in acute inflammation or neurotoxic astrocytes in Alzheimer’s disease, these studies are critical for advancing our understanding and ultimately identifying new ways to treat both conditions.”

Investigating B-1a cells and acute inflammation
Acute inflammation is a critical, rapid-response immune system mechanism, but its dysregulation can lead to severe pathologies, including sepsis and other life-threatening conditions. By dissecting the way B-1a cells influence these responses, the research team aims to pinpoint new avenues of therapeutic modulation, potentially leading to better control of harmful inflammation and improved patient outcomes. This research is being led by Drs. Aziz and Wang.

Uncovering the impact of neurotoxic astrocytes in Alzheimer’s disease
Astrocytes, once considered mere support cells, are increasingly recognized for their active contributions to brain health and disease. Led by Dr. Sharma, Dr. Wang and Philippe Marambaud, Ph.D., professor at the Feinstein Institutes, the team will specifically examine the way neurotoxic astrocytes contribute to neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease. The ultimate goal is to identify new ways to slow or even prevent the neurodegenerative condition’s progression.

“Developing effective treatments for inflammation and Alzheimer’s disease requires knowledge about biological mechanisms,” stated Kevin J. Tracey, M.D., president/CEO of the Feinstein Institutes and Karches Family Distinguished Chair in Medical Research. “Grant support from NIH enables researchers to identify specific therapeutic targets that form the basis for therapeutic advances in patient care.”

The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research is the home of the research institutes of Northwell Health, the largest healthcare provider and private employer in New York State. Encompassing more than 50 research labs, 3,000 clinical research studies, and 5,000 researchers and staff, the Feinstein Institutes raise the standard of medical innovation through its six institutes of behavioral science, bioelectronic medicine, cancer, health system science, molecular medicine, and translational research. The Feinstein Institutes are billed as the global scientific leader in bioelectronic medicine—a field of science that could potentially revolutionize medicine. The Feinstein Institutes publish two open-access, international peer-reviewed journals: Molecular Medicine and Bioelectronic Medicine. Through the Elmezzi Graduate School of Molecular Medicine, the Institutes offer an accelerated Ph.D. program.