A new tool for quickly testing drugs for neurological disorders
Official title: Ultra-High-Throughput Plate Reader for Drug Discovery Using All-Optical Electrophysiology
Funded at Quiver Bioscience INC. · NIH-10930017 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new tool that helps scientists quickly find and test new drugs for brain-related conditions by using light to measure how brain cells respond, making the search for better treatments faster and easier.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Quiver Bioscience INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $251,085 |
| NIH project number | 5R44NS125689-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-10930017 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with neurological disorders or conditions that affect the central nervous system.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-neurological conditions or those who do not have access to the required testing facilities may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing an ultra-high-throughput plate reader that utilizes all-optical electrophysiology to enhance drug discovery for neurological disorders. By employing advanced optogenetics and a unique technology called Optopatch, the project aims to create a scalable platform that can rapidly identify and optimize potential therapeutic candidates. The instrument can simultaneously record voltage and calcium activity from multiple samples, significantly improving the efficiency of drug screening processes. This innovative approach addresses the critical need for better assays and models in neuroscience, which have historically been challenging to develop.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to faster and more effective drug development for patients suffering from neurological disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise with similar high-throughput screening technologies, indicating potential for success in this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Quiver Bioscience INC.
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lu, Yang — Quiver Bioscience INC.
- Study coordinator: Lu, Yang
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.