How early hormones and gene switches shape male and female brains
Official title: Epigenetic Regulation of Sex Differences in the Brain
Funded at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory · NIH-11257719 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how early-life hormones and epigenetic gene changes shape brain differences that relate to autism and other mental health conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cold Spring Harbor, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2018 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $632,824 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH113628-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11257719 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with autism, parents of autistic children, or anyone interested in biological sex differences in neurodevelopment may find this research relevant to future treatments.
✕Less likely to help
This is basic laboratory research in mice, so people seeking immediate changes to clinical care or direct treatment will not benefit directly from participation.
What this research studies
This work uses mouse models to see how brief exposure to estrogen in newborn life changes gene activity and brain wiring in a region involved in social behavior. Scientists map where estrogen receptors bind, measure lasting epigenetic marks, and manipulate specific target genes to observe effects on adult social behaviors. The focus is on the posterior bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNSTp), a brain node that differs between males and females, to connect early molecular events to sex-biased behaviors. The goal is to explain biological reasons why autism and related conditions can differ between men and women.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the results could reveal biological mechanisms behind sex differences in autism risk and point to targets or timing for future interventions.
How similar studies have gone: Prior animal studies show early hormones can reshape brain circuits and behavior, but directly linking specific estrogen target genes to sex-biased autism traits is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
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Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Cold Spring Harbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tollkuhn, Jessica — Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
- Study coordinator: Tollkuhn, Jessica
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.