How signals guide cells to build the developing human brain
Elucidating the Signaling Landscapes Underlying Cellular and Regional Specification During Human Brain Development
This project maps how cells use chemical signals over space and time to form different regions of the developing human brain, aiming to help people affected by developmental brain conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11237139 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use human-derived 3D cell cultures and organ-like tissues together with precise molecular tools to observe how multiple signaling pathways act across space and time. They will create high-resolution maps of signaling activity and experimentally change those signals to see how regional cell types and tissue shapes emerge. The team will use primary human tissues when possible and compare results across models to increase relevance to human development. Advanced imaging and biochemical analyses will link signaling patterns to the formation of specific brain regions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People affected by congenital or early-life neurodevelopmental disorders, or individuals who can donate tissue or biological samples, would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: Patients with unrelated chronic or adult-onset neurological conditions are unlikely to see direct benefit from this basic developmental research in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal how developmental brain disorders arise and point to new targets for diagnosis or future therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Related lab studies using human brain organoids and signaling measurements have provided valuable insights into development, but clinical translation from these models is still very early.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Emory University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Birey, Fikri — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Birey, Fikri
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.