Finding human-only nerve cell precursors that shape brain and spinal cord growth
Identifying human-specific neural progenitors and their role in neurodevelopment
This project looks for special human-only precursor nerve cells to understand how human brains and spinal cords grow and make more kinds of neurons.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11195233 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will compare developing human, non-human primate, and rodent neural tissues using single-cell RNA sequencing and other molecular tests to find cell types unique to humans. They will grow 3D spinal organoids and co-culture them with astrocytes or transplant labeled human cells into hosts to see how these precursors expand neuron numbers and types over time. The team will also check macaque samples for similar cell types and test regulatory DNA elements that may drive human-specific gene activity. Together these steps aim to trace when and how these human-specific progenitors produce more and different neurons.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be adult donors able to provide tissue, surgical samples, or consented biological material for research and shipping to the study site.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate clinical treatments or those with unrelated late-onset neurological conditions should not expect direct therapeutic benefit from this basic science project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal basic biological steps that explain human brain and spinal cord complexity and point to new targets for treating developmental or motor neuron disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Previous single-cell and organoid studies have found human-specific neural cell types, but using long-term organoids, cross-species comparisons, and functional tests of regulatory elements is a newer, less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- University of Chicago — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jang, Sumin — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Jang, Sumin
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 below.