How the gene CITED2 and maternal folic acid shape early brain development
Official title: Unraveling the interplay between the transcriptional co-regulator Cited2 and maternal folic acid in the regulation of neocortical development
Funded at Syracuse University · NIH-11158802 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at how a gene called CITED2 and a mother's folic acid intake together shape developing brain circuits linked to autism.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Syracuse University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Syracuse, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $186,875 |
| NIH project number | 5R21HD115073-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11158802 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Although this grant uses mouse models, pregnant people concerned about autism risk or families with a history of neurodevelopmental disorders could be candidates for future human studies informed by these findings.
✕Less likely to help
People already living with established autism symptoms are unlikely to receive direct or immediate benefit from this preclinical mouse research.
What this research studies
Researchers will use mice engineered to lack the CITED2 gene in the forebrain to see how losing this gene changes the growth and specialization of neuronal progenitor cells and the formation of local and long-distance connections in the neocortex. They will measure changes in gene activity and epigenetic marks to connect molecular changes with altered brain wiring. The team will also give extra folic acid to pregnant mice to see whether maternal supplementation changes brain structure, connectivity, and behavior. Behavioral testing and anatomical analyses will link the molecular findings to behaviors relevant to neurodevelopmental disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to maternal nutrition or epigenetic targets that help prevent or guide treatments for autism-related brain development problems.
How similar studies have gone: Folic acid is proven to prevent neural tube defects and has been linked in some human studies to lower autism risk, but using CITED2-deficient mice to tie epigenetic disruption to neocortical wiring is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
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Syracuse University
Syracuse, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Macdonald, Jessica L. — Syracuse University
- Study coordinator: Macdonald, Jessica L.
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.