New optical probe to map how neurotransmitter release varies at each release site in mouse NMJ
Official title: Development of a novel optical probe to study functional heterogeneity of individual neurotransmitter release sites at the neuromuscular junction
Funded at University of Kansas Medical Center · NIH-11506209 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new fluorescent tool will let doctors and researchers see exactly how often each release site at the neuromuscular junction releases neurotransmitter in healthy and diseased mice.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kansas Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kansas City, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2026 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $183,582 |
| NIH project number | 7R21NS131752-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11506209 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be individuals (or samples) connected to mouse models of neuromuscular function, including normal and diseased states relevant to NMJ transmission.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient benefits are not expected in this preclinical, animal-model study.
What this research studies
This project aims to create and test an optical probe that can visualize single vesicle transmitter release at individual active zones of the mouse neuromuscular junction. By attaching an acetylcholine sensor to a receptor-targeting antibody, researchers will image where and how often neurotransmitter is released across hundreds of sites. The study plans to compare normal NMJs and diseased conditions to understand heterogeneity in release probability. Outcomes could reveal new aspects of NMJ function and help guide therapies that target synaptic transmission.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could provide a clearer picture of NMJ signaling and point toward targeted treatments for diseases that affect synaptic transmission.
How similar studies have gone: Previous approaches lacked single-vesicle resolution, making this proposal a novel step that builds on but extends past methods.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kansas Medical Center
Kansas City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Badawi, Yomna — University of Kansas Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Badawi, Yomna
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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.