How small GTPase proteins shape brain circuits
Control of synaptic circuits by small GTPase pathways
This work looks at how certain proteins called small GTPases help build and fine-tune brain circuits linked to behaviors affected in autism.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11418326 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers at Northwestern will study how gene activity and specific signaling proteins (Ras/Rho-like small GTPases) guide neuron growth, connections, and synapse function during brain development. The Center will combine molecular experiments, cellular studies, imaging of neurons and circuits, and animal models to link changes in signaling to circuit activity and behavior. Multiple labs will share tools and data to speed discoveries and identify molecular steps that could be targeted in the future.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This Center is primarily lab-based and does not primarily enroll patients, though any human-focused substudies or sample-donation efforts would most likely involve people with autism or caregivers, especially children in developmental age ranges.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate clinical treatments are unlikely to benefit directly because the primary focus is basic science rather than testing new therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal molecular targets that eventually lead to new therapies or interventions to improve decision-making and adaptive behaviors in autism.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research has linked Ras/Rho small GTPase signaling to neuron development and synapse function, providing useful mechanistic groundwork, but translating those findings into autism treatments remains at an early stage.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Penzes, Peter — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Penzes, Peter
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.