How NMDA brain receptors affect signals, memory, and neuron health
Molecular Physiology of NMDA Receptors
This project maps how NMDA receptors control calcium signals in the brain that support memory but can also harm neurons, aiming to help people with Alzheimer’s and related brain conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of New York at Buffalo NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Amherst, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11323039 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are studying how NMDA receptors let calcium into brain cells to support thinking and learning, and how too much calcium can kill neurons in stroke and Alzheimer’s. They will combine atomic-level receptor structures with computer simulations that model receptor movement between closed, open, and desensitized states. The team will examine genetic variants found in patients to see how these changes alter receptor behavior and calcium flow. The work is lab- and computation-focused and aims to link tiny structural changes to effects on memory and neuron survival.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with Alzheimer’s disease, early memory problems, or known genetic variants affecting NMDA receptor genes would be most connected to the findings and possible future trials.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to NMDA receptor dysfunction or non-neurological diseases are unlikely to see direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal specific receptor changes that lead to memory loss or cell damage and point to new targets for drugs to protect neurons or improve cognition.
How similar studies have performed: Structural studies and small-molecule tests of NMDA receptors exist, but combining high-resolution structures, detailed simulations, and patient genetic variants is a newer approach with promising early laboratory results.
Where this research is happening
Amherst, United States
- State University of New York at Buffalo — Amherst, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Popescu, Gabriela K — State University of New York at Buffalo
- Study coordinator: Popescu, Gabriela K
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.