How sensory-motor circuits develop for suckling and chewing.
Official title: Developmental mechanisms in the formation and function of sensory-motor circuits responsible for suckling and mastication.
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-10984873 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how the brain and muscles work together to help babies learn to suck and chew their food, which is really important for eating, and it hopes to find ways to improve treatments for diseases that affect these abilities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $166,644 |
| NIH project number | 1K01DE033040-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10984873 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals with neurodegenerative diseases that affect motor functions related to suckling and mastication.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have any issues with suckling or chewing, or those without neurodegenerative conditions, may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the development of sensory-motor circuits that control the ability to suckle and chew, which are essential for food intake in mammals. It focuses on understanding how these circuits are formed and matured during early postnatal development, particularly the role of the masseter muscle and its associated sensory neurons. By examining the transition from suckling to mastication, the research aims to uncover mechanisms that could lead to better understanding and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases affecting these functions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments for conditions that impair suckling and chewing, enhancing the quality of life for affected individuals.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in understanding sensory-motor circuits in other contexts, but this specific focus on the transition from suckling to mastication is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Florez Paz, Danny Mauricio — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Florez Paz, Danny Mauricio
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Precision phenotyping of emphysema in the elderly: a study in diverse adults
Researchers will look at CT scans and lung tests in older adults to understand different forms of emphysema and how they relate to health outcomes.
-
HPV-based cervical cancer screening and treatment implementation in resource-limited settings
A collaborative project to help doctors in South Africa put HPV-based screening and same-day treatment for cervical cancer into routine care, so more people get fast, effective care.
-
Cervical cancer screening and treatment rollout in resource-poor settings
A team from Columbia and the University of Cape Town is testing how to best implement affordable, same-day HPV-based screen-and-treat for cervical cancer in public health settings.
-
Understanding SCN3A-related Developmental Epileptic Encephalopathy and Finding Better Treatments
This NIH grant focuses on how SCN3A gene variants cause developmental epileptic encephalopathy and aims to develop more effective therapies for affected patients.
-
mChoice: Boosting PrEP Use and Adherence for Black and Latino MSM with Tailored Training and Support
A national study to help Black and Latino men who have sex with men start and stick with PrEP through culturally matched provider training and patient support.
-
M-CaRE: Mobile clinics and a smart heart-lung care tool for multimorbidity
A mobile, multilingual tool plus community health workers will help screen and manage high blood pressure and COPD in diverse adult patients, especially in underserved areas.
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.