Understanding Brain and Immune System Links in Psychiatric Conditions
Official title: UC Davis Conte Center: Neuroimmune Mechanisms of Psychiatric Disorders
Funded at University of California at Davis · NIH-11063282 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research explores how the immune system might affect brain development and lead to psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia in young people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2015 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $3,105,492 |
| NIH project number | 5P50MH106438-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11063282 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is focused on understanding psychiatric conditions that emerge during adolescence and young adulthood, particularly in individuals aged 12-20 years old.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose psychiatric conditions are not linked to neuroimmune dysregulation or who are outside the adolescent and young adult age range may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
We are looking into how early immune system changes, possibly during pregnancy, might influence brain development in children. Our goal is to understand why some young people develop psychiatric conditions during adolescence and early adulthood. By studying these connections, we hope to find new ways to identify individuals at risk early on. This work could also lead to new treatments that target these specific immune and brain pathways.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to identify young people at risk for psychiatric conditions and help develop more effective treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work by this team has identified important factors in animal models that predict susceptibility to brain changes linked to psychiatric outcomes, providing a strong foundation for this renewed effort.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California at Davis
Davis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bauman, Melissa Dawn — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Bauman, Melissa Dawn
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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.