Support cells that trim extra brain connections during early development
Official title: Synapse Engulfment by Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells: A New Mechanism of Circuit Refinement in the Developing Brain
Funded at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory · NIH-11284104 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will learn if a type of brain support cell called oligodendrocyte precursor cells removes extra nerve connections during early life, which may matter for children with autism.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cold Spring Harbor, United States) |
| Project start | March 15, 2023 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $644,757 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS131486-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11284104 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This project does not enroll patients; it uses mouse models and laboratory experiments rather than human participants.
✕Less likely to help
People seeking immediate clinical treatments are unlikely to benefit directly because this is preclinical laboratory research.
What this research studies
This work looks at how synapses (the connections between brain cells) are pared back during early postnatal development and whether oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) take part in that pruning. Scientists will use mouse models of the visual system, live two-photon imaging to watch cells and synapses, genetic labeling and targeted cell removal, and behavioral tests to link cellular changes to autism-relevant outcomes. They will also search for the molecular signals that tell OPCs to engulf synapses after sensory experience. The goal is to map when and how this process happens so future therapies can aim at correcting abnormal early brain wiring.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could reveal new biological targets to help correct early brain wiring problems linked to autism and related neurodevelopmental conditions.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has shown microglia and astrocytes can remove synapses, but studying OPCs in experience-driven pruning is a newer and less-tested idea.
Where this research is happening
-
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Cold Spring Harbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cheadle, Lucas M — Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
- Study coordinator: Cheadle, Lucas 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.