Understanding how inhibitory circuits in the human brain work
Official title: Exploring cortical inhibitory circuit design in the human brain
Funded at Duke University · NIH-10910551 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain brain cells help keep our brain activity balanced, which is important for people with conditions like epilepsy, autism, and Alzheimer's, using samples from surgeries to learn more about these cells and how they work.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | September 6, 2024 |
| Project end | September 5, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $1,380,070 |
| NIH project number | 1DP2MH140149-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10910551 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals with neurological disorders such as autism, epilepsy, or Alzheimer's disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without neurological disorders or those who do not require neurosurgical intervention may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the design and function of inhibitory circuits in the human brain, which are crucial for maintaining balance in neural activity. By using live brain specimens from neurosurgical procedures, the team will explore the properties and roles of cortical interneurons, which are key players in various brain disorders such as epilepsy, autism, and Alzheimer's disease. The study employs advanced techniques like CellREADR and multimodal phenotyping to catalog the diverse cellular types and their functions in human brain tissue, aiming to improve our understanding of how these circuits are affected by diseases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to targeted therapies for neurological disorders by enhancing our understanding of human brain circuitry.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been significant research on animal models, this approach focusing on human brain circuits is relatively novel and untested.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Southwell, Derek G. — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Southwell, Derek G.
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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.