GABA-A receptor gating mechanisms and how drugs affect them
Official title: Mechanisms of GABAA receptor gating and allosteric modulation
Funded at University of Texas at Austin · NIH-11614082 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how GABA-A receptor gates work and how medicines can modulate them to help people with epilepsy, Alzheimer's-related symptoms, and other brain disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas at Austin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Austin, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $411,668 |
| NIH project number | 1R56NS144404-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11614082 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease dementia, autism spectrum disorder, or related neurological conditions may be relevant for future studies or therapies.
✕Less likely to help
People without these conditions or without GABA-A receptor–related symptoms may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to understand how the GABA-A receptor changes shape to open and close doors in brain cells and how different drugs or natural molecules influence this process. Using advanced 3-D structural methods, the study seeks to connect small changes in the receptor to its function and to improved drug designs. The goal is to develop personalized approaches that address why some patients don’t respond well to current treatments. If successful, findings could guide new therapies for alcohol withdrawal, dementia, and related conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: It could lead to more effective, tailored treatments for disorders linked to GABA-A receptor dysfunction.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that understanding receptor structure can inform drug design, but translating this to personalized therapies remains challenging.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Goldschen-Ohm, Marcel Paz — University of Texas at Austin
- Study coordinator: Goldschen-Ohm, Marcel Paz
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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.