How human brain circuits develop, stay healthy, and what makes them unique
Development, Maintenance, and Human-Specific Evolution of Cortical Circuits
This project looks at how tiny parts inside nerve cells — especially the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria — help brain circuits form, stay stable, and what makes human circuits special.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11370197 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team will study two cell parts in neurons, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria, and a tethering protein called Pdzd8 that links them. They will use advanced lab techniques, imaging, and genetic tools to see how ER-mitochondria contacts affect dendritic signal processing, synaptic plasticity, and feature selectivity in CA1 pyramidal neurons. A separate project will compare molecular and physiological features to identify human-specific aspects of cortical circuits. Most work is laboratory-based at Columbia and aims to create basic knowledge that could inform future patient-focused research.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be adults able to donate biological samples (for example genetic material or tissue samples) or to take part in follow-up human-focused studies of brain function.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate clinical treatment, children, or individuals unwilling or unable to provide biological samples are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal molecular targets or strategies to protect or repair brain circuit function in neurological conditions.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work, including studies from this group, has shown that ER-mitochondria contacts affect neuronal calcium signaling and synaptic function, but therapeutic translation remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Polleux, Franck — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Polleux, Franck
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.