New medications to improve brain function in autism and schizophrenia
Official title: Development of Kv3.1 potentiators for correcting fast-spiking-interneuron hypofunction in schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder
Funded at Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NIH-11092276 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks for new medications that could help balance brain activity in people with autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $596,371 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH131721-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11092276 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational drug discovery work is not yet recruiting patients, but future clinical trials would likely seek individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder or schizophrenia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without autism spectrum disorder or schizophrenia would not be the focus of any future treatments developed from this specific research.
What this research studies
Many people with autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia experience an imbalance in brain activity, where some signals are too strong and others are too weak. Our team is working to find new drugs that can help restore this balance by targeting a specific protein called Kv3.1, which is important for certain brain cells to work correctly. By making these brain cells more active, we hope to improve thinking, sensory processing, and behavior. This project focuses on identifying and refining these potential new medications.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new drug treatments that improve cognitive function and reduce symptoms for individuals living with autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific drugs are novel, there is growing evidence suggesting that targeting Kv3.1 channels could be a promising approach for these conditions.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Denton, Jerod S. — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Denton, Jerod S.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Potentiating Kv3.1 to restore brain balance in autism and schizophrenia
A drug-like compound that boosts Kv3.1 channels is being explored to help brain cells in autism and schizophrenia regulate signals more normally.
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Sleep problems in autism and daily functioning
A large study at a major university is looking at how sleep problems affect children with autism and their daily lives.
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Sleep and ASD: Understanding how sleep problems relate to autism symptoms
A Stanford team is studying whether sleep problems contribute to and worsen autism symptoms in children and how improving sleep could help.
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.