How brain scaffolding guides nerve fiber connections
The role of extracellular matrix in axon routing
This work looks at whether specific extracellular matrix proteins help guide eye-to-brain nerve fibers so connections form correctly, which could matter for people with developmental vision problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Upstate Medical University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Syracuse, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11163483 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, researchers will use lab models and genetic tools to see how a scaffold-like layer in the brain (the pial basement membrane) and its laminin proteins guide retinal nerve fibers at the optic chiasm. They will examine early, peak, and late phases of nerve growth, track where guidance cues appear, and image how axons cross or fail to cross the midline. The team will also test which laminin receptors on support cells are needed for cell polarity and proper nerve routing by manipulating genes and observing anatomical and molecular outcomes. Overall the project combines genetics, microscopy, and molecular analysis to understand why some axons go across the midline while others do not.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Although this grant does not enroll patients, people with congenital optic pathway misrouting or developmental stereopsis problems would be the most likely beneficiaries of eventual human applications.
Not a fit: People with vision loss from unrelated causes such as age-related macular degeneration or traumatic optic nerve injury are unlikely to benefit directly from this basic science project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal mechanisms that explain some congenital wiring problems in the visual system and point to targets for future therapies or diagnostics.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal studies have shown laminins affect tissue organization and neural guidance in other brain regions, and early data here suggest β2 laminins influence optic nerve crossing, so this builds on promising preclinical findings.
Where this research is happening
Syracuse, United States
- Upstate Medical University — Syracuse, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Martinez-De Luna, Reyna I — Upstate Medical University
- Study coordinator: Martinez-De Luna, Reyna I
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.