Characterizing how excitatory brain connections form and change in living tissue
Official title: Characterizing excitatory synapse in vivo structural and molecular dynamics
Funded at Massachusetts Institute of Technology · NIH-11449101 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how excitatory synapses in the brain are created or removed over time in living animals, focusing on how activity and specific molecules influence which connections are kept.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $658,869 |
| NIH project number | 2R01EY034419-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11449101 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patients directly in this project; the work is in animal models and human brain tissue analyses.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient participation in this stage.
What this research studies
Researchers will use advanced 2-photon imaging to watch excitatory synapses on neurons in living animals and see how different input signals affect their formation and elimination. The project also aims to map the molecular sequence that leads to synapse assembly or disassembly, using daily imaging and tissue analyses to connect structural changes with specific molecules. By comparing different input types and experiences, the study seeks to reveal how sensory experience shapes brain wiring relevant to learning and memory.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding synapse dynamics could inform new approaches to preserving or restoring healthy brain connections in conditions affecting learning and memory.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical imaging studies have shown that synapses are dynamic and can reorganize with experience, supporting the potential relevance of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nedivi, Elly — Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Nedivi, Elly
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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.