Astrocytes: how brain support cells help combine brain signals
Official title: Astrocytes as the integrators of neuromodulator signals
Funded at New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC · NIH-11408799 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Scientists are testing whether astrocytes help blend signals from mood- and attention-related brain systems to shape behavior, using advanced imaging and spatial mapping technology.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 17, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,444,875 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH140020-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11408799 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with mood disorders or aging-related brain changes could be future beneficiaries of therapies arising from this research.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals or those without neuropsychiatric conditions may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project explores whether astrocytes act as integrators of neuromodulator signals across brain circuits, using cutting-edge cellular imaging and spatial transcriptomics. A multidisciplinary team will study how astrocytes respond to serotonin, acetylcholine, and other neuromodulators, and how these interactions influence behavior, aging, and stress. By mapping cellular activity and gene expression in healthy and aged models, the study aims to reveal a central mechanism by which glial cells contribute to brain function. The research could open new avenues for treating mood disorders and age-related brain changes by targeting astrocyte-based integration.”,
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new strategies to modulate brain signaling in mood, aging, and CNS diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests astrocytes influence neural circuits, but integrating multiple neuromodulator signals at the astrocyte level is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
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New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dranovsky, Alex — New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC
- Study coordinator: Dranovsky, Alex
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.