St. Mary’s College of Maryland, a public liberal arts institution in St. Mary’s City, Maryland, announced on October 22, 2026 that it received a $495,296, three-year grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to expand undergraduate neuroscience research opportunities. Led by Dr. Sarah Latchney, Associate Professor of Neuroscience, the project will connect 24 students with advanced brain research resources through a new collaboration with the Allen Institute in Seattle.
The award marks only the third NIH grant in the college’s history and comes as the institution reports growing external research funding.
Bringing Advanced Brain Research Into the Classroom
The project, titled “Promoting Two-Way Knowledge Transfer of Scientific and Public Outreach of Cell Type Taxonomies (SPOCTT) Resources Through the Development of a Scalable Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE),” aims to make neuroscience research more accessible to undergraduate students.
Drawing on resources from the NIH’s Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative, the program will introduce students to open-access brain research datasets, tools, and technologies.
The research experience will include three components:
- Foundational Instruction: Students will develop essential neuroscience knowledge and research skills at St. Mary’s College.
- Allen Institute Study Tour: Participants will spend two weeks in Seattle working with researchers and exploring neuroscience resources.
- Capstone Research Experience: Students will apply their knowledge through an independent research project.
The course will also be designed for adaptation by institutions with limited research resources, potentially expanding access to neuroscience education beyond Maryland.
For Latchney, the collaboration offers students an opportunity to explore how scientific data sharing can accelerate research while gaining direct exposure to the field.
Expanding Access to Research Through Collaboration
The partnership will give students experience working with open-access scientific resources developed through the BRAIN Initiative, which supports research aimed at understanding brain function and neural circuits.
Rather than relying exclusively on traditional classroom instruction, the course will integrate active research experiences with guidance from scientists at the Allen Institute.
Latchney emphasized the broader goal of developing a model that other institutions can use:
“I’m particularly excited to develop an approach that benefits our own students while creating a model that other institutions can adapt to expand access to research supported by the BRAIN Initiative.”
The initiative is intended to strengthen undergraduate research training while creating opportunities for students to explore graduate education and careers in neuroscience.
NIH Award Builds on Growing Research Funding at St. Mary’s College
The grant comes during a period of increasing external research support at St. Mary’s College.
During the first three months of fiscal year 2027, the college secured more than $1 million in external awards, representing 69% of its total external funding during the previous fiscal year.
Over the past three years, the institution has:
- Submitted 97 grant proposals and secured 61 awards.
- Increased proposal submissions by 31% over five years.
- Supported 49 student employees through sponsored research awards.
These awards support activities spanning biomedical research, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, environmental stewardship, and other academic disciplines.
Dr. Katherine Gantz, Provost and Dean of Faculty at St. Mary’s College, highlighted how the project connects faculty research with meaningful student experiences.
The new NIH award adds to the college’s research portfolio while supporting the development of future scientists through hands-on training and cross-institutional collaboration.
About St. Mary’s College of Maryland
St. Mary’s College of Maryland is a public liberal arts institution located in St. Mary’s City, Maryland. Recognized as Maryland’s public honors college, it offers undergraduate programs across the sciences, humanities, and social sciences. Faculty-led research and student participation in scholarly projects are central components of its academic approach.
