How brain support cells control swelling and nerve overactivity
Mechanisms of astrocyte volume regulation and control of neural excitability
This project looks at how a swelling-activated channel in astrocytes affects brain overactivity that can lead to seizures and may play a role in Alzheimer's-related brain damage.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Riverside NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Riverside, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11237158 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would hear about lab research focused on astrocytes, the support cells in the brain, and a channel they use to release chloride and glutamate when they swell. Researchers will use cellular and animal models to see how that channel changes the space around neurons and alters network excitability and seizure risk. The team will test whether astrocyte-driven release of glutamate contributes to excitotoxic damage seen in stroke, epilepsy, and Alzheimer-related conditions. Findings are intended to point toward new molecular targets that could be used in future human treatments or trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with Alzheimer disease dementia or seizure disorders, and those willing to donate clinical data or tissue for research, are the most relevant candidates for follow-up studies or future trials stemming from this work.
Not a fit: People without neurodegenerative disease or seizure disorders, including children, are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic-lab research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal new targets to reduce seizures and excitotoxic brain injury in conditions like epilepsy, stroke, and Alzheimer disease.
How similar studies have performed: Previous laboratory studies show that the same channel can release glutamate and worsen injury in stroke models, but its direct role in causing seizures and epileptogenesis has not been tested before.
Where this research is happening
Riverside, United States
- University of California Riverside — Riverside, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fiacco, Todd a — University of California Riverside
- Study coordinator: Fiacco, Todd a
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.