Resources to study brain circuits using a specialized rabies tool
Official title: Resources for Studying Neural Circuits with G-Deleted Rabies Virus
Funded at Salk Institute for Biological Studies · NIH-11380680 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A NIH-supported project will help scientists access and use a specialized rabies-based tool to map neural circuits in the brain, so researchers can better understand how brain cells connect and communicate.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Salk Institute for Biological Studies NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 28, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $393,409 |
| NIH project number | 5U24NS140479-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11380680 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patient enrollment; this is a research infrastructure project.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient participation in this core facility-focused grant.
What this research studies
This grant funds a coordinated effort at the Salk Institute to improve access to and use of G-deleted rabies virus for monosynaptic input tracing. It addresses practical barriers like high costs, limited availability of AAV helper vectors, and complex reagent selection to enable researchers to design better experiments. By making vectors more affordable and easier to select, the project aims to speed up high-quality studies of brain circuits in specific cell types. The work will involve core facilities and collaboration to optimize protocols and controls for reproducible results. Ultimately, these improvements could accelerate discoveries about brain function and disease-related circuit changes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, researchers could map brain circuits more efficiently, potentially informing better treatments for neurological conditions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous use of G-deleted rabies tracing has transformed circuit mapping, but access and cost barriers have limited uptake; this project aims to overcome those barriers.
Where this research is happening
-
Salk Institute for Biological Studies
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Callaway, Edward M — Salk Institute for Biological Studies
- Study coordinator: Callaway, Edward M
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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.