How brain cells choose which connections to keep or remove
How do neurons in the brain decide to refine their synaptic connections in vivo?
This work looks at how neurons decide during development which brain connections to keep or remove, with the goal of helping people with autism.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11248274 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you or your child has autism, the team studies how neurons in mice decide which brain connections to keep or remove by watching living brains with advanced imaging. They control neuronal activity in specific cells and use two-photon microscopy and genetic tools to see which synapses are stabilized or eliminated. Through molecular screens they found that Pyk2 and JAK2 act as 'elimination' signals while SIRPa acts as a 'stabilization' signal, and they are studying how the balance of these signals determines whether a connection stays. This basic work aims to point toward new targets to correct early brain wiring problems linked to autism.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project does not enroll human participants, but it is most relevant to people with autism and families interested in research on early brain wiring.
Not a fit: Patients looking for immediate treatments or opportunities to join a human clinical trial will not receive direct benefit from this laboratory-based research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could reveal molecular targets for therapies that correct abnormal brain wiring in autism.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal studies support activity-dependent synapse pruning as important for development, but identifying Pyk2/JAK2 and SIRPa as specific molecular players is a newer and promising advance.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston Children's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Umemori, Hisashi — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Umemori, Hisashi
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.