How brain cells make direct electrical connections
Molecular mechanisms of electrical synapse formation in vivo
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF OREGON · NIH-11251197
This project looks at how neurons form direct electrical links called gap junctions, which could help people with autism, epilepsy, or other brain disorders.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF OREGON (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (EUGENE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11251197 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers use transparent zebrafish embryos to watch identified nerve cells (Mauthner neurons) build electrical synapses in living animals. They combine genetics, cell biology, and biochemistry to identify the molecules that guide gap junctions to the right places between neurons. The team has found that a family of scaffold proteins (the ZO-family) is required for proper placement and function of these channels. Understanding these steps could explain how electrical connections go wrong in conditions like autism or epilepsy.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with autism, epilepsy, or other neurodevelopmental or neurological conditions are the groups most likely to benefit from these findings, although the project itself uses animal models rather than enrolling patients.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment options or wanting to join a clinical trial are unlikely to benefit directly because this is basic laboratory research in fish.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new targets for diagnostics or treatments for autism, epilepsy, and related brain disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Previous basic-science work has linked gap junctions to neural function and disease, but using zebrafish genetics to define the molecular assembly of electrical synapses is relatively new and still being developed.
Where this research is happening
EUGENE, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF OREGON — EUGENE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: MILLER, ADAM C — UNIVERSITY OF OREGON
- Study coordinator: MILLER, ADAM C
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.
Conditions: Autistic Disorder