How nerve cells keep activity balanced in autism and related conditions
Presynaptic Homeostatic Plasticity and Mental Health
Researchers are looking at how brain cells adjust their signaling to preserve balance in people with autism and intellectual disability.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11249236 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, scientists will examine the molecular systems that let nerve endings adjust how much neurotransmitter they release, focusing on mechanisms active in the adult brain. They will study genes linked to autism and intellectual disability and test how those genes affect the brain's ability to stabilize excitation and inhibition. Most work will be done in laboratory models and adult mammalian brain tissue to build a detailed mechanistic picture. The goal is to connect genetic risk factors to failures or changes in these homeostatic systems that might underlie symptoms.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with autism spectrum disorder or intellectual disability, especially those with known genetic risk variants, would be the most relevant patient group for future translation, although the grant primarily supports laboratory research rather than an immediate clinical trial.
Not a fit: People without autism or without relevant genetic risk variants are unlikely to benefit directly from this basic science work in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to restore synaptic balance and eventually lead to therapies that improve symptoms in autism and intellectual disability.
How similar studies have performed: Previous laboratory and animal studies have shown homeostatic plasticity mechanisms influence excitation/inhibition balance, but translating these findings into human therapies remains largely unproven and novel.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Davis, Graeme W — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Davis, Graeme W
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.