Understanding how early life neglect affects brain development and memory.
Official title: Microglial TREM2 Mediates Hippocampal Synaptic and Cognitive Sequela of Early Deprivation and Enrichment
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11049675 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how not getting enough care early in life affects brain development, especially in areas important for memory, and it aims to find ways to help kids who have faced neglect by understanding how certain brain cells can be improved.
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 | September 18, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $715,999 |
| NIH project number | 1R01MH136490-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11049675 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation or benefit from this research would be children aged 0-11 years who have experienced neglect or adverse early life conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not experienced early life neglect or related cognitive deficits may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of early life neglect on brain development, particularly focusing on the hippocampus, which is crucial for memory. Using a mouse model, the study examines how limited resources during early life lead to cognitive deficits and structural changes in the brain. The researchers aim to understand the role of the TREM2 receptor on microglia, which are brain cells involved in synaptic pruning, and how enhancing this receptor can potentially reverse the negative effects of early deprivation. By exploring these mechanisms, the research seeks to provide insights that could inform interventions for children who have experienced neglect.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapeutic strategies to improve cognitive function in children affected by early life neglect.
How similar studies have gone: While this research explores novel mechanisms, previous studies have shown that addressing early life adversities can lead to significant improvements in cognitive outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kaffman, Arie — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Kaffman, Arie
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Aging Well with HIV: Alcohol, Risk Reduction, and Education Center (AWAR3E)
A center at Yale is exploring how aging with HIV interacts with alcohol use to create inflammation and frailty, with the goal of finding biomarkers and potential treatments.
-
Community Health Worker–Led Hypertension Prevention and Control in Nepal
A community health worker–driven approach in Nepal aims to prevent and control high blood pressure among adults by bringing education and care directly to communities and homes.
-
Community health worker-led hypertension prevention and control in Nepal
A community health worker–led program in Nepal aims to help adults prevent and better control high blood pressure through home visits, education, and ongoing support.
-
Adapting a mobile health tool to boost HIV outcomes for older adults with HIV in Ukraine
A mobile health platform called PositiveLinks would be adapted for older adults with HIV in Ukraine to help them stay engaged in care and improve treatment success.
-
Behavioral and neural links between spoken language sounds and written words in young children
This grant studies how young children learn from listening and reading to improve literacy, by looking at how sound patterns transfer to written language.
-
Understanding how autoimmunity causes myasthenia gravis
This project looks at why the immune system attacks the nerve-muscle connection in myasthenia gravis and how different patient groups are affected.
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.