Placental NHIP protein may protect developing neurons from oxygen stress in autism
Official title: Placental identified NHIP regulating neuronal oxidative stress in autism
Funded at University of California at Davis · NIH-11326195 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying a tiny, newly found brain-protective peptide called NHIP that may guard developing neurons from oxygen stress linked to autism.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $677,045 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD112991-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11326195 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant individuals and their offspring at high risk for autism, from placental samples or birth cohorts, may be relevant to this research.
✕Less likely to help
The study involves placental and fetal brain biology and may not directly benefit individuals without a pregnancy- or autism-related context.
What this research studies
This project uses placental tissue from people at high risk for autism to explore how the NHIP gene and its micropeptide respond to low oxygen conditions. The study aims to understand whether NHIP helps protect neurons during early brain development when oxygen supply may be limited. By examining genetic, epigenetic, and transcriptional data, researchers will test NHIP’s role in counteracting oxidative stress and its possible interaction with other autism-related factors. Findings could point to new ways to support fetal brain health in pregnancies at risk for autism.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If NHIP is shown to protect developing neurons, this could lead to new strategies to reduce autism risk related to placental oxygen stress.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has linked placental biology and oxidative stress with autism, and this project builds on those associations with a newly discovered gene NHIP.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California at Davis
Davis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lasalle, Janine M — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Lasalle, Janine M
Related research
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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.