Understanding how brain chemicals move through the brain's outer spaces
Official title: NRSA application: Characterizing acetylcholine, noradrenaline, and dopamine diffusion through the extracellular space in three subregions of macaque neocortex
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-10984450 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain brain chemicals move around in the brain of macaque monkeys to help us understand how brain signaling works, which could lead to better treatments for people with neurological conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2022 |
| Project end | November 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $86,488 |
| NIH project number | 5F32NS129585-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10984450 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with neurological conditions that may be influenced by neuromodulatory signaling.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to neuromodulatory systems or those not experiencing neurological issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how neuromodulators, which are chemicals that influence brain activity, diffuse through the extracellular space in the macaque neocortex. By developing advanced computational models, the study aims to better understand the factors that affect the movement of these chemicals over larger distances than previously studied. This could provide insights into how brain signaling works at a macro level, which is crucial for understanding various brain functions and disorders. Patients may benefit from improved knowledge of brain signaling mechanisms that could lead to new treatments for neurological conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance our understanding of brain signaling, potentially leading to new therapeutic strategies for neurological disorders.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been significant research on neuromodulators, this approach of modeling diffusion at a macro scale is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Krueger, Juliane — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Krueger, Juliane
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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.