Manipulating brain circuits to improve Huntington's disease treatment
Official title: Targeted Circuit Manipulation for Ameliorating Huntington's Disease Pathogenesis
Funded at Central Michigan University · NIH-10991782 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for new ways to help people with Huntington's disease by using special tools to understand how the brain works before symptoms show up, with the hope of slowing down the disease and finding better treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Central Michigan University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Mount Pleasant, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $2,416 |
| NIH project number | 3R21NS132089-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10991782 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals at risk for Huntington's disease or those in the early stages of the condition.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with advanced Huntington's disease who are already experiencing severe symptoms may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to explore new ways to change the dynamics of brain circuits in patients with Huntington's disease (HD) by using innovative tools developed through the BRAIN initiative. The project focuses on understanding how specific neural circuits behave before symptoms of HD appear, with the goal of slowing disease progression. By targeting and modulating the activity of certain neurons in the brain, researchers hope to restore balance in brain activity that is disrupted in HD. This approach could lead to new therapeutic strategies that address the disease earlier than current treatments allow.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that slow the progression of Huntington's disease and improve quality of life for patients.
How similar studies have gone: While this approach is innovative, similar research has shown promise in manipulating neural circuits for other neurological conditions, suggesting potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hochgeschwender, Ute H — Central Michigan University
- Study coordinator: Hochgeschwender, Ute H
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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.