Investigating how the AMPK signaling pathway affects myelination during development
Official title: Friend or Foe? The AMPK Signaling Pathway During Developmental Myelination
Funded at State University New York Stony Brook · NIH-11118215 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a specific pathway in the brain helps support the growth of myelin, which is important for healthy brain function, and it’s testing whether a common diabetes medication can improve myelin production in young and older mice to see if it could help people with conditions that damage myelin.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University New York Stony Brook NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stony Brook, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $232,524 |
| NIH project number | 1R21NS142512-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11118215 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation or benefit from this research include children and adults with demyelinating conditions or those at risk of myelination issues.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with fully developed myelination and no neurological conditions may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the role of the AMPK signaling pathway in the process of myelination, which is crucial for proper brain function. It examines how oligodendroglial cells, responsible for myelination, manage energy production and usage, particularly during developmental stages. The study involves manipulating AMPK activity using pharmacological agents like metformin to understand its effects on myelination in both young and aged mice. By analyzing these mechanisms, the research aims to clarify the potential benefits and risks of AMPK activators in treating demyelinating diseases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments for demyelinating diseases by optimizing myelination processes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promising results with AMPK activators like metformin in enhancing remyelination in adult models, but the effects during development remain largely untested.
Where this research is happening
-
State University New York Stony Brook
Stony Brook, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Colognato, Holly a — State University New York Stony Brook
- Study coordinator: Colognato, Holly a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how oral microbes interact at the single-cell level
Aimed at uncovering how bacteria in the mouth stick together and influence each other, using advanced imaging to reveal functional connections at the microscopic level.
-
Cellular and circuit-level mechanisms of HIV/NRTI-related pain in the context of opioids
This NIH grant explores how HIV medicines (NRTIs) and opioids may combine to cause chronic pain, aiming to help people living with HIV who experience pain.
-
Using a dye to see how kidneys work and how transporters act
A new, simple dye-based test could help doctors measure kidney tubular function and transporter activity more accurately in people with acute kidney problems.
-
Interneuronal aging in trauma-exposed World Trade Center responders
A study in WTC responders with PTSD will look at brain interneuron health using advanced imaging and proteins to understand how PTSD may affect aging brains.
-
Dynamic PTSD-Related Cognitive Risk in Aging WTC Responders
This project follows World Trade Center responders as they age to understand how PTSD symptoms relate to changes in thinking skills over time.
-
How CHIKV viruses adapt to mosquitoes and cause disease in people
This project explores how the chikungunya virus changes to become better at infecting mosquitoes and causing disease in humans, with the goal of understanding how to prevent transmission and illness.
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.