How connections between brain cells form and change in the living brain
Characterizing excitatory synapse in vivo structural dynamics
Researchers are using advanced live imaging to watch how excitatory connections between brain cells form and disappear, which matters for people with brain disorders that affect synapses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11142658 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
They will use high-resolution two-photon imaging in mice to follow individual excitatory synapses on single neurons in the visual cortex over days. Specific thalamic inputs will be labeled so the team can track which inputs connect where and how those connections change with altered visual experience. After imaging, the researchers will apply Magnified Analysis of Proteome (MAP) to map the proteins present at the same synapses and link molecular content to past structural behavior. By combining input identity, dynamic history, and proteomic signatures, they aim to reveal the steps and molecules that control synapse selection and remodeling.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project does not enroll patients; however, people with neurological disorders involving synapse dysfunction may follow the findings and could be candidates for future clinical studies informed by this work.
Not a fit: Because the research is preclinical and performed in mice, it will not provide direct treatments or immediate clinical benefit to patients now.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help scientists detect early synapse problems and point to new targets for treating brain disorders such as autism, epilepsy, and Alzheimer's disease.
How similar studies have performed: Live two-photon imaging of synapse dynamics in animal models has been successful before, but combining triple-color in vivo tracking with downstream proteomic mapping is a relatively new and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Cambridge, United States
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Cambridge, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nedivi, Elly — Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Nedivi, Elly
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.