Investigating how a specific cytokine affects brain development in offspring exposed to maternal health issues.
Official title: Cytokine Regulation of Secondary Neural Progenitors
Funded at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences · NIH-10752901 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how high levels of a substance called IL-6 during pregnancy might affect the brain development of babies, especially in relation to conditions like autism and schizophrenia, and it’s for expectant moms who want to understand how things like infections, allergies, and pollution could impact their child's future.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 6, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $431,750 |
| NIH project number | 1R21HD113311-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10752901 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation would include pregnant individuals with a history of infections, autoimmune diseases, or exposure to environmental pollutants.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or those without any history of maternal health issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how elevated levels of the cytokine IL-6 during pregnancy can influence brain development in offspring. It aims to explore the effects of maternal infections, allergies, autoimmune diseases, obesity, and pollution on the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and schizophrenia. By studying both human and mouse neural progenitors, the research seeks to uncover the mechanisms by which IL-6 alters fetal brain development and contributes to behavioral issues later in life. The approach includes analyzing the timing of developmental insults and their impact on specific neural progenitor cells.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new insights into preventing neurodevelopmental disorders in children exposed to adverse maternal health conditions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown a correlation between elevated IL-6 levels and neurodevelopmental disorders, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Levison, Steven W — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Levison, Steven W
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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.