Understanding deep-layer brain nerve cells and how they are controlled
Official title: Multimodal analysis of primate infragranular pyramidal neurons and their modulation
Funded at Allen Institute · NIH-11138583 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at how specific deep-layer brain cells in humans and primates respond to ion channels and chemical signals, with implications for people with Alzheimer's and related brain disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Allen Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $549,839 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS123959-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11138583 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who donate brain tissue (for example through brain banks or certain neurosurgeries) or patients with Alzheimer’s or related conditions who participate in tissue donation programs would be the most relevant contributors.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate symptom relief or direct treatment are unlikely to benefit in the short term because this is laboratory-based, basic neuroscience research.
What this research studies
Researchers will study individual deep-layer (infragranular) neurons from human and nonhuman primate brain tissue to link each cell’s genes, shape, and electrical behavior. They will use Patch-seq, a method that records a cell’s electrical signals and captures its RNA so scientists can match function to gene expression. Viral labeling tools will help identify and follow particular neuron classes, especially layer 5 neurons that send signals to other brain regions. The team will test how specific ion channels and neuromodulator receptors change how these cells process input and produce output.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal which neuron types drive disease-related brain changes and point to new, more precise targets for Alzheimer’s treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Other single-cell and Patch-seq studies have successfully mapped neuron types and linked gene expression to cell properties, but direct translation into new therapies is still largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
Allen Institute
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kalmbach, Brian E. — Allen Institute
- Study coordinator: Kalmbach, Brian 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.