How brain stem cells make different neurons in the brain's cortex
Direct and Indirect Neurogenesis in the Mammalian Neocortex
Researchers are mapping how early brain stem cells create different types of cortical neurons to help understand conditions like autism.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University Medical Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11074619 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be hearing about lab work that tracks how individual neural stem cells in the developing cortex produce neurons either directly or through intermediate cells. The team will use new genomic techniques and live-cell labeling to tag and follow those cell lineages over time. Most experiments will use high-resolution molecular analysis and laboratory models to read cell identities and developmental paths. The goal is to link those lineage patterns to how cortical circuits form and how they might go wrong in autism.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with autism or their families may find the results most relevant and could potentially participate if the project adds a human-sample or clinical component.
Not a fit: Anyone seeking an immediate treatment or clinical intervention is unlikely to benefit directly from this basic, lab-based research right away.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal early developmental steps that go awry in autism and point to new targets for diagnosis or future therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Previous lineage-tracing and genomic studies have advanced understanding of cortical development, but this combined direct-versus-indirect lineage approach is relatively new and may reveal novel details.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston University Medical Campus — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Haydar, Tarik F — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Haydar, Tarik F
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.