Resilience of Neurons and Circuits in Crustaceans and Humans
Official title: Resilience of Neurons and Circuits
Funded at Brandeis University · NIH-11381198 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Scientists are studying how neural circuits stay stable and keep working during temperature and environmental stress, with findings that could apply to humans.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brandeis University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Waltham, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2033 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,045,790 |
| NIH project number | 5R35NS142987-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11381198 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patient enrollment; basic science using crustacean models with potential relevance to human nervous system resilience.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient benefit is not guaranteed; this is a foundational study in neural resilience using model circuits.
What this research studies
This project uses the crab stomatogastric ganglion to explore why neural circuits can produce similar outputs even with different underlying parameters. Researchers will combine computer models with experiments to see how circuits tolerate long-term changes and cryptic states that aren’t obvious at normal conditions. The work may reveal factors that help neurons stay reliable during stress and how extreme perturbations can disrupt function, offering insights into human nervous system resilience. Results could guide future approaches to understanding and protecting brain function in disease or injury.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of why nervous systems remain stable under stress could inform strategies to protect human brain function during illness or injury.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary work with STG circuits shows robust rhythm maintenance across temperatures, supporting the potential for broader applicability to nervous system stability.
Where this research is happening
-
Brandeis University
Waltham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Marder, Eve E — Brandeis University
- Study coordinator: Marder, Eve E
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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.