Oxytocin system and parenting in mice
Official title: Functional organization and plasticity of the oxytocin system for single or communal parenting in mice
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11416815 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in mice looks at how the oxytocin system supports single or shared parenting and what makes parental care differ between individuals.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2018 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $559,009 |
| NIH project number | 5U19NS107616-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11416815 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to direct patient enrollment in this grant since it is a mouse study.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient participation is not part of this mouse-focused research.
What this research studies
This project uses advanced neural recording and behavioral monitoring in mice to see how oxytocin release in the brain supports parenting and cooperative care. It explores whether different cell types or experiences change oxytocin signaling and how sex or social context affects these patterns. The team has already built a home-cage monitoring system and is using photo-tagged recordings to identify oxytocin neurons in mothers, aiming to link brain activity with parenting behavior. Although the model is in mice, findings could inform understanding of social bonding and parenting-related challenges in humans, including autism-related social difficulties.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Gaining insights into how oxytocin supports social bonding and parenting could guide future therapies or interventions for autism and social disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows oxytocin can influence social behavior; this project extends to parental and communal contexts in a nuanced way.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University School of Medicine
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Froemke, Robert Crooks — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Froemke, Robert Crooks
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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.