How dopamine is released from nerve cell bodies and branches in the midbrain
Mechanisms for somatodendritic dopamine release in the midbrain
Researchers are working to understand how dopamine is quickly released from midbrain nerve cells to help people with addiction and other brain disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard Medical School NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11257674 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You can think of this work as mapping how dopamine leaves the cell bodies and branches of neurons in the midbrain and reaches nearby receptors. The team will study the molecular machinery that forms release 'hotspots' and test the roles of proteins such as RIM and synaptotagmin-1 in controlling fast release. They will use laboratory models, imaging, and electrical measurements to watch release events and manipulate specific proteins to see what changes. Findings aim to explain how altered somatodendritic dopamine signaling may contribute to addiction and other brain disorders.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People affected by dopamine-related conditions such as substance use disorder or other midbrain-related neurological disorders could be relevant candidates for future clinical studies or sample donation tied to this work.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to dopamine signaling or midbrain function are unlikely to gain direct benefit from these lab-focused findings in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could reveal new molecular targets for therapies that better control dopamine signaling in addiction and other dopamine-related brain disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory studies have implicated proteins like RIM and synaptotagmin-1 in neurotransmitter release, but applying these findings to rapid somatodendritic dopamine release is a relatively new and early-stage area.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Harvard Medical School — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kaeser, Pascal Simon — Harvard Medical School
- Study coordinator: Kaeser, Pascal Simon
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.