Neuroinflammation, Epigenetics, and Male Brain Development in Autism
Official title: Neuroinflammation, Epigenetics and Male Vulnerability
Funded at University of Maryland Baltimore · NIH-11540184 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how immune signals in the developing brain and male biology might influence autism risk, focusing on when and how the brain’s wiring is shaped.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 1995 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $43,482 |
| NIH project number | 3R01MH052716-30S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11540184 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with autistic disorder or related neurodevelopmental concerns, particularly those whose condition may relate to early-life immune or inflammatory factors.
✕Less likely to help
People without early-life neuroinflammatory risk factors or autism may not directly benefit from this specific research focus.
What this research studies
This project looks at how early brain development is guided by bursts of growth and how immune cells in the brain may affect that process, with a special emphasis on why males may be more vulnerable. It proposes that there are critical periods during which exposures shape future neurodevelopmental outcomes and that inflammation can disrupt these windows. By studying mast cells and microglia in brain regions linked to social and cognitive functions, the researchers aim to map when and how these cells influence development. The work combines epigenetic analysis with models of neuroinflammation to connect early-life experiences to later autism-related features.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide timing and strategies for interventions to reduce autism risk or severity linked to early brain inflammation.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work supports a role for microglia and inflammatory processes in brain development, but combining epigenetics with sex-specific vulnerability is a novel angle with preliminary promising signals.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Maryland Baltimore
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mccarthy, Margaret M. — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Mccarthy, Margaret M.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Resilient HIV Implementation for LGBTQ Youth in Africa and Beyond
A program to help young people ages 15–24 who are at risk for or living with HIV, especially sexual and gender minority youths, access better HIV prevention and care through real-world health practice improvements.
-
Algorithms to find HLA-E neoantigens for cancer immunotherapy
Aims to develop computer methods to discover tumor-specific targets presented by HLA-E to guide new T cell therapies for cancer.
-
NPRL2 loss and focal cortical dysplasia in epilepsy
This grant investigates how losing NPRL2 in the brain contributes to focal cortical dysplasia and epilepsy in children.
-
New way to make head and neck cancer treatments work better
A research project at the University of Maryland Baltimore aims to improve treatment for advanced head and neck cancer, with a focus on making cisplatin and newer therapies work better while reducing kidney side effects.
-
Genetics and function of inherited brain disorders that affect thinking and behavior
Scientists are studying how genes and cellular helpers shape brain development and why certain kids have intellectual disabilities and adaptive-behavior challenges.
-
Finding broadly protective antibodies against Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever
Researchers will study blood from people who survived CCHF to find human antibodies that protect against multiple virus variants, with early tests in animal models to check their breadth.
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.