Understanding Brain Receptors for Cognitive Health
Regulation of Signaling by mGluR5
This research explores how two brain receptors, mGlu5 and mGlu3, work together to improve memory and thinking skills, especially for conditions like schizophrenia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11126817 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our brains have special receptors, like mGlu5 and mGlu3, that play a role in how we learn and remember. We've found that when mGlu5 is stimulated, it can help improve thinking problems in animal models of conditions like schizophrenia. A key discovery is that activating mGlu3 at the same time can greatly boost the effects of mGlu5, making it even more powerful in areas of the brain important for memory. We are using special mice to understand exactly how these receptors work together in brain cells to enhance learning and memory.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research in animal models is not directly recruiting patients, but future clinical trials based on these findings would likely seek individuals experiencing cognitive deficits related to schizophrenia or similar conditions.
Not a fit: Patients not experiencing cognitive deficits related to neurological disorders would likely not benefit from treatments developed from this specific line of research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to develop medications that improve cognitive difficulties in people with schizophrenia and other neurological disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown that stimulating mGlu5 can reverse cognitive deficits in rodent models, and our team has uniquely discovered the potentiation effect of mGlu3.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, UNITED STATES
- Vanderbilt University — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Conn, P Jeffrey — Vanderbilt University
- Study coordinator: Conn, P Jeffrey
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 below.