Archives: Grants

Aakanksha Singhvi, Ph.D., Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

Roles of Glia in Neural Aging

The brain has two cell-types in about equal numbers, glia and neurons. Studies in the recent past have unequivocally shown that interactions between these two cell-types is essential for the nervous system to work effectively. Indeed, defects in glia function, or ability of glia and neurons to co...

Andre M. M. Sousa, Ph.D. University of Wisconsin-Madison

Cerebellin 2 Dysregulation Mediates Synaptic Deficiency in Down Syndrome

Down syndrome is the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability. Intellectual disability in individuals with Down syndrome includes deficits in cognition, attention, working memory, motor development, and language that begin in the first months of life. These deficits progress with age ...

Ishmail Abdus-Saboor, Ph.D., Columbia University

Investigating a Skin-brand Neuronal Pathway for Rewarding Social Touch

Synapses, the sites of signaling between neurons in the brain, play essential roles in learning, memory, and the health of neurons themselves. An enduring mystery is why some neurons are more vulnerable to synapse dysfunction, synapse loss, and neurodegenerative disease during aging.

Yvette Fisher, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley

Dynamic Modulation of Synaptic Plasticity During Spatial Exploration

2022 Seed GrantYvette Fisher, Ph.D.University of California, Berkeley The Virginia (Ginny) & Roger Carlson Seed Grant Cognitive flexibility is critical for appropriately adjusting thoughts and behaviors to meet changing demands and is frequently disrupted in neuropsychiatric disorders. In bra...

Erin M. Gibson, Ph.D., Stanford University

Circadian Regulation of Oligodendroglial Senescence and Metabolomics in Aging

2022 Seed GrantErin M. Gibson, Ph.D.Stanford University The brain consists of two main classes of cells, neurons and glia. Glia make-up more than half of the cells in the brain and perform such diverse functions as maintaining structure, support, and connection between neurons, modulating the imm...

Sarah C. Goetz, Ph.D., Duke University

Uncovering a Novel Role for Primary Cilia in Eph/Ephrin Signaling in Neurons

2022 Seed GrantSarah C. Goetz, Ph.D. Duke University Women’s Council Seed Grant Primary cilia are tiny projections from cells that function like an antenna- they receive and may also send signals to the cell’s microenvironment. These structures are found on most types of cells in mamm...

Alexey Ostroumov, Ph.D. Georgetown University

Elucidating the Role of Paradoxical GABA Signaling in Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease is an incurable, gradually progressive neurological motor disorder that affects the ability to control and perform movements. The disease results from low levels of a neurotransmitter, dopamine, which is crucial to normal functioning of the brain’s regions that are...

Sungjin Park, Ph.D., University of Utah

Unveiling the Hidden Architectures of the Brain ECM

The extracellular matrix (ECM) maintains cellular integrity, provides a nurturing niche, regulates signaling activity, and transduces mechanical force. In the brain, ECM plays a critical role in a variety of functions, including providing niches for neurogenesis and synaptogenesis, maintaining th...

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