Understanding how neuron numbers and wiring patterns are set in the brain
Official title: Understanding the regulation of neuron cell number and arbor size
Funded at City College of New York · NIH-11419251 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A scientist at a major university is studying how sensory neurons determine how many there should be and how large their branches are, using fruit fly brain cells to learn about brain development and potentially human brain injuries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | City College of New York NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2025 |
| Project end | September 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $224,100 |
| NIH project number | 5R00EY032269-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11419251 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patient recruitment; basic science in a model organism.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient participation or benefit from this basic-science study at this stage.
What this research studies
This project uses the Drosophila visual system as a model to understand how sensory neurons control the size and arrangement of their dendritic branches. By examining gene expression patterns from single-cell RNA sequencing, the team aims to identify regulators that shape neurite targeting and synapse formation during development. The work will connect changes in gene activity to how many neurons are produced and how they connect within the optic lobe, which could illuminate general principles of brain wiring relevant to human brain injury. The investigator has already advanced the project through a K99 phase and will continue under NIH funding to map regulatory programs that coordinate neuron number and arbor size.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Insights from this research could inform understanding of brain repair and regeneration after injury by revealing how neuronal populations and connections are correctly established.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies using model organisms and single-cell profiling have successfully linked gene expression to neuronal development and wiring patterns, supporting feasibility.
Where this research is happening
-
City College of New York
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Malin, Jennifer a — City College of New York
- Study coordinator: Malin, Jennifer a
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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.