How tiny RNAs help guide nerve fibers in autism
Official title: MicroRNA Regulation of Guidance Receptor Expression in Spinal Commissural Axon Guidance
Funded at University of Toledo · NIH-11444480 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in chicken models looks at how specific microRNAs control nerve-fiber guidance receptors to help proper brain wiring relevant to autism.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Toledo NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Toledo, United States) |
| Project start | August 14, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $560,925 |
| NIH project number | 1R15NS151327-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11444480 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be researchers and clinicians studying autism and neural development, not patients enrolled in this specific animal study.
✕Less likely to help
Direct benefits to patients would come from long-term translational insights; this study itself does not involve patient participation.
What this research studies
This project explores how microRNAs turn on or off receptors that steer growing nerve fibers during development, which is important for forming healthy brain circuits. By examining precrossing neurons in the spinal cord of developing chickens, researchers aim to understand how miR-219a and miR-92 regulate Robo1 to prevent mistargeting of nerve paths. The work combines sequencing, lab-based cell assays, and in vivo experiments to see how disrupting these microRNA interactions affects axon guidance. Findings could reveal fundamental mechanisms that, if mirrored in humans, influence neural connectivity in autism. The study specifically connects molecular regulation to the Slit/Robo1 signaling axis that guides commissural axons.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could clarify molecular steps in brain wiring that may be perturbed in autism, informing future strategies to support neural connectivity.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work identified miR-219a and miR-92 as regulators of Robo1, with evidence of impact on axon guidance in model systems.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Toledo
Toledo, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Guofa — University of Toledo
- Study coordinator: Liu, Guofa
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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.