Genetic and brain-related roots of dad’s care behaviors
Official title: Genetic and neural mechanisms of paternal care behavior
Funded at University of Chicago · NIH-11537949 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will study how genes and brain processes influence paternal care in small freshwater fish to understand why some dads help raise offspring.
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 start | July 9, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $403,462 |
| NIH project number | 7R35GM154624-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11537949 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patients; research involves animal models (fish) to understand behavior.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient benefit is unlikely since the work is in fish models, not humans.
What this research studies
This project looks at how genetics and brain function shape paternal care in darter fishes, using modern genetic and neurobiological methods. Researchers will compare different species and lineages to identify genetic variants and neural pathways linked to caring behavior. The study combines natural populations with controlled analyses to map genes to specific behaviors and neural activity. Findings could reveal fundamental mechanisms that drive paternal care across species, including humans, by connecting genes to behavior through brain biology.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could enhance understanding of the biological roots of parental care, which may inform treatments for social or developmental disorders in the long term.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows genetic and neural bases for behavior in animals; this project extends that to paternal care across darter species.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Moran, Rachel L — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Moran, Rachel 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.