New molecules to boost D5 dopamine receptor signaling in the brain
Official title: Small-molecule probes for augmenting D5 receptor signaling
Funded at Lieber Institute, INC. · NIH-11235139 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are creating drug-like molecules that specifically boost the D5 dopamine receptor to help thinking and memory problems in people with psychiatric and neurological disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lieber Institute, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2023 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $839,517 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH132019-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11235139 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with cognitive deficits associated with psychiatric or neurological disorders (for example, difficulties with memory, attention, or problem-solving in conditions like schizophrenia or other brain disorders) would be the eventual candidates for therapies developed from this work.
✕Less likely to help
Because this is early-stage lab research, people who do not have cognitive symptoms or who need immediate treatment are unlikely to benefit from this project right now.
What this research studies
The team will design and make small molecules aimed at activating the brain's D5 dopamine receptor. They will screen these compounds in lab tests for how well they bind and trigger D5-specific signaling pathways and check for unwanted activity at related receptors. Promising compounds will be tested in cell models and animal studies that measure brain signaling and behavior linked to learning, memory, and attention. The goal is to find selective probes that improve cognitive measures without the side effects seen with older nonselective drugs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more targeted treatments that improve cognition with fewer side effects than current D1/D5 drugs.
How similar studies have gone: Previous nonselective D1/D5 agonists showed some cognitive benefits in clinical trials but caused troubling side effects, and truly D5-selective therapies are largely new and untested in patients.
Where this research is happening
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Lieber Institute, INC.
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Carr, Gregory V — Lieber Institute, INC.
- Study coordinator: Carr, Gregory V
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.