How cerebellar output circuits control arm and leg movement
Official title: Functional dissection of cerebellar output circuits that orchestrate limb motor control
Funded at Salk Institute for Biological Studies · NIH-11394338 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A researcher at the Salk Institute is studying how specific brain circuits in the cerebellum help coordinate and refine limb movements, with a focus on pathways that connect to the spinal cord.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Salk Institute for Biological Studies NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 19, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $652,690 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS128898-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394338 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This grant is a basic science project using animal models to understand cerebellar circuitry; it is not a patient recruitment study.
✕Less likely to help
Patients cannot enroll in this basic science project.
What this research studies
This project looks at the cerebellar nuclei and how distinct neuron groups influence forelimb and limb control. Using anatomical and molecular methods, the study aims to map which CN neuron subsets drive rapid online movement corrections and prevent forelimb ataxia. The work will examine both indirect (cerebellar-cortex via thalamus) and direct (cerebellar spinal) pathways to understand their roles in precise motor output. The goal is to uncover how different CN circuits contribute to smooth, coordinated limb movements. Outcomes could reveal targets for therapies to improve motor control in conditions affecting the cerebellum.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding cerebellar circuits could lead to new approaches for diagnosing and treating movement disorders that affect limb coordination.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has shown distinct cerebellar pathways contribute to motor control, supporting the plausibility of targeted circuit roles.
Where this research is happening
-
Salk Institute for Biological Studies
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Azim, Eiman — Salk Institute for Biological Studies
- Study coordinator: Azim, Eiman
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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.