Developing new lab tests to find chemicals that harm brain development
Official title: An assay suite featuring hiPSC-derived neurons and support cells, to test toxicants and industrial chemicals for developmental neurotoxic effects
Funded at Vala Sciences, INC. · NIH-11122244 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is creating new laboratory tests to identify chemicals that could cause brain development problems in children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vala Sciences, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, United States) |
| Project start | June 19, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $755,735 |
| NIH project number | 5R44ES036385-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11122244 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This project is not recruiting patients directly, but its findings could eventually benefit children at risk for neurodevelopmental disorders due to environmental exposures.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking direct treatment or diagnosis for existing neurodevelopmental disorders will not receive immediate benefit from this foundational research.
What this research studies
Neurodevelopmental disorders, like autism and ADHD, affect many children and cannot be cured, often starting from early brain development. These disorders can be linked to environmental chemicals, but it takes a long time to discover these links through traditional methods. Our project aims to create fast, standardized lab tests using human-derived brain cells to quickly find chemicals that might harm a child's developing brain. This will help us identify harmful substances much sooner, before they can affect more children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help prevent neurodevelopmental disorders by identifying harmful chemicals before they can impact children's brain development.
How similar studies have gone: This project aims to develop novel, high-throughput assays, building on existing knowledge about developmental neurotoxicity but offering a new, more efficient testing approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Vala Sciences, INC.
San Diego, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gordon, Kara L — Vala Sciences, INC.
- Study coordinator: Gordon, Kara L
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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.