Large-scale center using patient-derived neurons to study genes linked to autism and other brain conditions
Assay and Data Generation Center (ADGC) for the Model of iPSC-derived Neurons for NPD (MiNND)
This project will use lab-grown human neurons to find how changes in up to 200 genes may affect autism and other neurodevelopmental and psychiatric conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11353954 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will turn donor cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and grow them into neurons that model human brain cells. They will run many standardized lab tests in parallel to measure how altering up to 200 risk genes changes molecular signals and neuronal behavior. The project will generate large, shareable datasets and biological readouts to help link genetic findings to disease-relevant biology. Work is organized as a centralized assay and data generation center led from Rutgers and coordinated with the SSPsyGene network.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal contributors would be people with autism or other neurodevelopmental/psychiatric disorders — especially those with known genetic variants or who can donate blood or skin samples for iPSC creation.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate new treatments should not expect direct personal benefit because this is laboratory-based research focused on understanding biology rather than delivering therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could speed up discovery of how risk genes cause symptoms and point to new targets for diagnosis or treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Smaller iPSC-based studies have revealed disease mechanisms for some disorders, but this large-scale, parallel approach to hundreds of genes is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Newark, UNITED STATES
- Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences — Newark, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pang, Zhiping P. — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Pang, Zhiping P.
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 below.