Understanding how dopamine helps animals navigate using smell
Official title: Investigating dopamine's role in olfactory navigation
Funded at Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-11242308 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how a brain chemical called dopamine helps fruit flies find their way through tricky smells, so researchers can learn more about how our brains make decisions based on what we smell.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $54,538 |
| NIH project number | 1F30DC023130-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11242308 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals interested in the neurological basis of sensory processing and those affected by conditions that impair olfactory function.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with no interest in sensory processing or those not affected by olfactory disorders may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of dopamine in helping animals, specifically fruit flies, navigate through complex odor environments. By studying the neural circuits in Drosophila melanogaster, researchers aim to understand how dopamine influences decision-making and behavior during olfactory navigation. The project utilizes advanced genetic techniques to explore how dopamine neurons interact with other brain cells to facilitate tracking of odor plumes. This approach allows for a detailed examination of the molecular and circuit-level mechanisms involved in this essential sensory process.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance our understanding of sensory navigation, potentially leading to new treatments for disorders related to sensory processing.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown success in using Drosophila as a model for understanding neural mechanisms, indicating that this approach is promising.
Where this research is happening
-
Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Eghbali, Noelle — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Eghbali, Noelle
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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.