Understanding how brain cells in the sense of smell work together
Official title: Circuit functions of fast-spiking interneurons in the main olfactory bulb
Funded at Lehigh University · NIH-11128776 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores how specific brain cells in the area responsible for smell communicate, which could help us understand conditions like Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lehigh University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bethlehem, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $402,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DC021296-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11128776 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research uses animal models and is not directly recruiting patients, but its findings may eventually benefit individuals living with Alzheimer's disease or other neurological conditions affecting the sense of smell.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not affected by neurological conditions related to brain circuit function or the sense of smell may not directly benefit from this specific basic science project.
What this research studies
Our sense of smell is vital for many daily activities and survival, and the olfactory bulb in the brain is the first place where smell information is processed. This project aims to uncover how different types of brain cells, called fast-spiking interneurons, interact within this area. By studying these basic connections, we hope to gain fundamental insights into how the brain encodes sensory information. This foundational knowledge is important because disruptions in these circuits are seen in conditions like Alzheimer's disease. We are using advanced techniques to observe these cell interactions in mouse brains.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this basic understanding of brain circuits could lead to new ways to think about and eventually treat conditions that affect brain function, such as Alzheimer's disease.
How similar studies have gone: While the general importance of inhibitory interneurons is known, detailed understanding of how specific fast-spiking interneurons contribute to precise neural coding in the olfactory bulb has remained elusive, making this a novel approach to a specific question.
Where this research is happening
-
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Burton, Shawn Denver — Lehigh University
- Study coordinator: Burton, Shawn Denver
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.