Understanding how autism risk genes affect brain development using zebrafish
Official title: High-throughput Functional Analysis of Autism Risk Genes
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11408569 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are testing how autism risk genes influence brain development by studying them in zebrafish and human stem cells to uncover shared harmful pathways.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2018 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $740,702 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH116002-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11408569 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with autism spectrum disorder who may benefit from advances in understanding gene-related brain mechanisms could be future trial candidates or participants in related translational studies.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient treatment is not part of this basic mechanistic study and may not provide immediate clinical benefits.
What this research studies
This project uses a high-throughput zebrafish system to study dozens of autism-related genes at once, looking for common cellular and brain circuit changes. It will compare results from fish models to human stem cell-derived neurons to find conserved mechanisms. The goal is to map molecular signatures and identify potential targets for therapies that could benefit people with autism spectrum disorder. The study builds on prior work showing convergent gene effects and aims to reveal how disruption of these genes shapes brain structure and activity.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify shared pathways and targets for new treatments that address core brain mechanisms in autism.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work demonstrated convergent effects of ASD genes in zebrafish; expanding to 50 genes in parallel is a logical progression with strong justification.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hoffman, Ellen J — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Hoffman, Ellen J
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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.