Understanding how early life stress affects brain changes and behavior
Official title: Epigenetic Mechanisms of Chronic Stress Action
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-10987054 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how stress in early life can change the brain in ways that might make it harder to handle stress later on, and it’s for anyone interested in understanding how these changes happen and how they might relate to conditions like depression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | December 13, 2022 |
| Project end | November 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $573,354 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH129306-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10987054 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have experienced significant early life stress and are currently dealing with anxiety or stress-related disorders.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not experienced early life stress or do not have anxiety disorders may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how early life stress leads to lasting changes in the brain that can affect behavior and increase vulnerability to stress later in life. By studying specific brain regions in mice, the researchers aim to identify stable epigenetic changes, known as 'chromatin scars', that alter gene expression and influence stress responses. The study employs advanced techniques like proteomics and next-generation sequencing to explore these mechanisms at various biological levels, including molecular and cellular changes. Importantly, the research also validates its findings using postmortem brain samples from individuals with depression.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new insights into the biological underpinnings of stress-related disorders and inform the development of targeted therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the effects of early life stress on brain function, making this approach both relevant and potentially impactful.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nestler, Eric J. — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Nestler, Eric 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.