How the brain and nerves cause nausea
Molecular and circuit mechanisms of nausea-associated behaviors
This project maps the specific brain cells and nerve signals that trigger nausea to help people who suffer nausea from illnesses or treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11175530 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are focusing on a small brain region called the area postrema that senses blood-borne and gut-derived signals and can trigger nausea. Using mice, they will profile individual neurons with RNA sequencing to identify distinct cell types and the chemicals they respond to. The team will use genetic tools to turn specific neurons on or off and observe resulting nausea-related behaviors. They will also trace vagal (gut-to-brain) and humoral (blood-borne) inputs to understand how those signals drive the circuit.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who experience nausea from conditions or treatments such as chemotherapy, diabetes, or chronic gastrointestinal disorders would be the kinds of patients who could benefit and might be eligible for future trials based on this work.
Not a fit: Patients whose problems are not driven by nausea (for example isolated pain, mechanical bowel obstruction, or non-aversive digestive symptoms) may not see direct benefit from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new, more targeted treatments that reduce nausea caused by illnesses or medical treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies have previously identified nausea-related neurons in the area postrema, but mapping the specific humoral and vagal inputs and molecular signatures is a newer, less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Chuchu — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Chuchu
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.