Multiplex imaging of brain activity and plasticity with optimized sensors
Official title: Multiplex Imaging of Brain Activity and Plasticity with Optimized FRET/FLIM-based Sensors
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11600361 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to build and test red fluorescent sensors that let scientists see brain signals and molecular changes at the same time in living mice.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $192,806 |
| NIH project number | 3U01NS128655-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11600361 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not a patient-facing trial; findings may influence understanding of brain diseases and therapies.
✕Less likely to help
This research does not involve direct patient participation or recruitment.
What this research studies
Researchers at Northwestern University will develop highly sensitive red FRET/FLIM sensors to visualize biochemical signals alongside calcium activity in brain circuits. They will validate these sensors in cells, brain slices, and live mice, focusing on synaptic changes and spine formation during behavior. The project includes iterative sensor improvements guided by measurements and feedback from experiments in awake animals performing navigation tasks. This work aims to reveal when and where plasticity-related signals occur in neural circuits. The ultimate goal is to enable precise, real-time imaging of molecular events underlying learning and memory in the living brain.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit indirectly in the long term from clearer maps of how learning and memory work, potentially informing treatments for brain disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Previous imaging approaches have shown that advanced sensors can reveal dynamic signaling, supporting the potential value of this strategy.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dombeck, Daniel a — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Dombeck, Daniel a
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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.