Mapping how brain cells are inhibited using new markers
Official title: Brain-wide mapping of neuronal inhibition by novel inverse activity markers
Funded at Scripps Research Institute, the · NIH-10639977 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new tool to help scientists see when brain cells are less active, which could give us better insights into how the brain works and what happens when things go wrong, making it useful for anyone interested in brain health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Scripps Research Institute, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | May 2, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $3,013,502 |
| NIH project number | 1RF1MH132570-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10639977 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with neurological conditions that involve altered neuronal inhibition.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to neuronal inhibition may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a novel tool called the Inverse Activity Marker (IAM) to detect when brain cells are less active. Current methods primarily track increased activity, leaving a gap in understanding how inhibition occurs. By identifying specific protein changes that correlate with decreased neuronal activity, researchers aim to create markers that can be used in living animals to visualize and study these processes. This could lead to better insights into brain function and dysfunction.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance our understanding of brain activity regulation, potentially leading to new treatments for neurological disorders.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using inverse markers is innovative, similar research has shown promise in understanding neuronal activity through other types of markers.
Where this research is happening
-
Scripps Research Institute, the
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ye, Li — Scripps Research Institute, the
- Study coordinator: Ye, Li
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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.