MAB-5's role in shaping neuron identity and connections
Official title: The role of MAB-5, a Hox transcription factor, in establishing and maintaining neuronal identity and connectivity
Funded at Brigham Young University · NIH-11360342 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in a worm model (C. elegans) aims to understand how a specific gene guides which neurons form and how they connect, which helps explain brain cell diversity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham Young University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Provo, United States) |
| Project start | June 2, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $550,159 |
| NIH project number | 1R15NS145107-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11360342 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are researchers and clinicians studying neural development and neurogenetics, particularly those using model organisms or interested in translational implications for human brain development.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient participation is not described; findings are in a model organism and foundational biology.
What this research studies
Researchers at Brigham Young University will explore how the MAB-5 transcription factor influences the identity and wiring of neurons derived from two neuroblasts in C. elegans. They will use single-cell RNA sequencing and electron microscopy to compare left-right neuron pairs and identify molecular mechanisms that establish and maintain distinct neuron types. The work is designed to reveal how gene expression patterns translate into unique connectivity, potentially informing human neural development in broad terms. This project advances our basic understanding of why neurons adopt particular roles and links to how neural circuits are built.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of how neuron types are specified and connected, which could inform future approaches to neurodevelopmental disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that left/right neuronal differences can arise from the same lineage, and this project builds on that foundation with advanced molecular and imaging techniques.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham Young University
Provo, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Taylor, Seth R — Brigham Young University
- Study coordinator: Taylor, Seth R
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.