2011 Research Topics
In 2011, the Brain Research Foundation Seed Grant Program funded critical research in 18 areas of neuroscience. In addition to our annual seed grant program, the Foundation awarded two larger grants to distinguished investigators in 2011. Drs. Xavier Castellanos and Paul Greengard were chosen to receive $150,000 each to pursue exciting research in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) respectively. Click on each of the topics below to learn more about the studies and how they’ll contribute to the field of neuroscience.
Click here to find out about previous research topics.
Parkinson’s diseasePaul Greengard, Ph.D.
Vincent Astor Professor, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience
of the Comparative Bioscience Center, Rockefeller University
Ischemic StrokeCould HuR, a regulator of growth factor mRNAs, improve outcome after ischemic stroke?
2011 Seed Grant
Agnieszka Ardelt, M.D., Ph.D.
Department of Neurology
University of Chicago
Trace Amine-Associated Receptors Analysis of Trace Amine-Associated Receptor cluster deletion mice2011 Seed Grant
Thomas Bozza, Ph.D.
Department of Neurobiology and Physiology
Northwestern University
Neuron DevelopmentN-cadherin regulation of the adult neural stem cell niche2011 Seed Grant
Anjen Chenn, M.D., Ph.D.
Department of Pathology
Northwestern University
Periventricular Heterotopia (PH)Molecular genetic analysis of Filamin functions in cerebral cortical development2011 Seed Grant
Yuanyi Feng, M.D., Ph.D.
Department of Neurology
Northwestern University
Odor Coding in the BrainPerceptual Coding of Natural Odors in the Human Brain2011 Seed Grant
Jay Gottfried, M.D., Ph.D.
Department of Neurology
Northwestern University
Autism Spectrum DisorderIs there a cerebellar component of autism? A study using the 'Chromosome 7 duplicated' (Dup) mouse model2011 Seed Grant
Christian Hansel, Ph.D.
Department of Neurobiology
University of Chicago
Adult Brain NeurogenesisRegulation of Neural Stem Cells by Amyloid Precursor Protein Metabolites in the Adult Brain 2011 Seed Grant
Orly Lazarov, Ph.D.
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology
University of Illinois at Chicago
Rett SyndromeCell type-specific alterations in a genetic animal model of Rett syndrome2011 Seed Grant
Gianmaria Maccaferri, M.D., Ph.D.
Department of Physiology
Northwestern University
Brain Circuits Modulating Reward and AddictionHabenular modulation of dopamine neurons and its relevance for cocaine addiction 2011 Seed Grant
Michela Marinelli, Ph.D.
Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology
Rosalind Franklin University
Genetic Prion DiseaseTreatment of Genetic Prion Disease by Mutation-Selective RNAi 2011 Seed Grant
James Mastrianni, M.D., Ph.D.
Department of Neurology
University of Chicago
Huntington's DiseaseEffects of Mutant Huntingtin on Cytoplasmic Dynein Phosphorylation and Function 2011 Seed Grant
Gerardo Morfini, Ph.D.
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology
University of Illinois at Chicago
Autism Spectrum DisorderValidation of synaptic targets in autism spectrum disorders2011 Seed Grant
Peter Penzes, Ph.D.
Department of Physiology
Northwestern University
Sensory and Motor DevelopmentSensorimotor processing in the zebrafish cerebellum2011 Seed Grant
Indira Raman, Ph.D.
Department of Neurobiology and Physiology
Northwestern University
ALS; Lou Gehrig's DiseaseCortical mechanisms in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis2011 Seed Grant
Gordon Shepherd, M.D., Ph.D.
Department of Physiology
Northwestern University
Galectins - How They Alter Brain FunctionGalectin modulation of excitatory transmission 2011 Seed Grant
Geoffrey Swanson, Ph.D.
Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Biological Chemistry
Northwestern University
Neocortical Pyramidal NeuronsNicotinic modulation of the excitability of neocortical pyramidal neurons2011 Seed Grant
Jack Waters, Ph.D.
Department of Physiology
Northwestern University