NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Investigating how environmental factors affect brain cell development.

Official title: Environmental Biosensors in the Oligodendrocyte Lineage

Funded at Advanced Science Research Center · NIH-11067780 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at how certain brain cells that help keep our brains healthy grow and change, which could help us understand and find new treatments for conditions like depression and multiple sclerosis.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionAdvanced Science Research Center
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, United States)
Project startMay 15, 2019
Project endApril 30, 2027
Funding year2025
Award (this year)$1,158,744
NIH project number5R35NS111604-07
Project IDNIH-11067780 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research include adults experiencing neurological or psychiatric disorders, particularly those related to myelination issues.

Less likely to help

Patients with conditions unrelated to myelination or those under 21 years old may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research focuses on understanding how myelinating glial cells, which are crucial for brain health, develop from progenitor cells in both the developing and adult brain. The team is exploring the basic mechanisms that regulate this process, particularly how epigenetic changes influence cell differentiation. By using animal models and advanced biosensors, they aim to uncover the links between environmental factors, brain function, and potential neurological disorders. The findings could lead to new therapeutic strategies for conditions like depression and multiple sclerosis.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to innovative treatments for psychiatric and neurological disorders linked to myelination impairments.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding myelination and its implications for brain health, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.

Where this research is happening

  • Advanced Science Research Center
    New York, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Casaccia, Patrizia — Advanced Science Research Center
  • Study coordinator: Casaccia, Patrizia

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

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  • How myelin-making brain cells sense their surroundings

    Learning how the brain's myelin-producing cells respond to signals could help people with conditions like multiple sclerosis and age-related decline.

    NIH research Advanced Science Research Center · New York, United States · NIH-11322081

  • How tau protein clumps form and behave in different brain cells

    This project looks at how the tau protein forms sticky condensates in brain cells and how that may lead to early changes in Alzheimer's and related dementias.

    NIH research Advanced Science Research Center · New York, United States · NIH-11310173

  • Harmful changes in brain immune cells in Alzheimer's

    This work looks at how brain immune cells called microglia become damaging in Alzheimer's disease and whether reversing a stress pathway can stop that harm.

    NIH research Advanced Science Research Center · New York, United States · NIH-11245789

  • Understanding tau protein behavior in Alzheimer's disease

    This study is looking at how changes in a protein called tau might lead to Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia, focusing on how it behaves in brain cells, especially those that help keep our brains healthy, to find new ways to treat or prevent these conditions.

    NIH research Advanced Science Research Center · New York, United States · NIH-11080308

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.