Measuring synapse activity, proteins, and RNA in individual brain cells
Simultaneous profiling of neuronal synapse activities, proteins, and messenger RNAs at the single-cell level
Researchers will link live synapse activity to nearby protein and mRNA patterns to better understand brain cell changes in people with autism.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11251771 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project looks at single brain cells to see how synapses (where neurons communicate) behave over time while also measuring which proteins and messenger RNAs are present and where they sit. Scientists will use live imaging of glutamate and calcium signals to record activity and pair that with highly multiplexed imaging to map many synaptic proteins and mRNAs in the same cells. By comparing cells with autism-related genetic changes to typical cells, the team aims to find shared synaptic patterns that could explain how those genes alter brain circuits. The work is lab-based at MIT using neuronal samples and advanced microscopy rather than a clinical treatment, but it could point to targets for future therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with autism, particularly those who carry genetic variants tied to synapse function, could be candidates for future sample donation or related follow-up studies.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate clinical treatments are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic laboratory research in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal specific synaptic changes linked to autism that point to new targets for treatments or diagnostics.
How similar studies have performed: Previous multiplexed imaging of synaptic proteins has revealed synaptic phenotypes tied to autism genes, but combining live activity imaging with protein and mRNA mapping in the same single cells is largely novel.
Where this research is happening
Cambridge, United States
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Cambridge, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bathe, Mark — Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Bathe, Mark
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.