Understanding how salamanders regenerate brain connections and sensory function
Official title: Regeneration of Thalamopallial Projections and Sensory Function in the Salamander Brain
Funded at Columbia Univ New York Morningside · NIH-11070946 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how salamanders can regrow brain cells after an injury, and it hopes to learn how this process might help people recover their senses after brain damage.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia Univ New York Morningside NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2024 |
| Project end | September 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $48,974 |
| NIH project number | 1F31NS141628-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11070946 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have experienced brain injuries and are interested in potential therapies for sensory restoration.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-acquired brain injuries or those whose conditions do not involve sensory function loss may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the remarkable ability of salamanders to regenerate neurons in their brain, specifically focusing on the pallium, which is similar to the mammalian cerebral cortex. The project employs advanced imaging techniques to analyze whether the connections from the thalamus to the regenerated pallium are restored after brain injury. By mapping these connections and assessing sensory responses, the research aims to uncover how sensory functions can be regained in injured brains, providing insights that could be applicable to human brain injuries.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for restoring sensory functions in patients with brain injuries.
How similar studies have gone: While the regeneration of neurons in salamanders is well-documented, the specific approach of mapping thalamopallial projections and sensory function restoration is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested in other studies.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia Univ New York Morningside
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chua, Jianming Nicholas — Columbia Univ New York Morningside
- Study coordinator: Chua, Jianming Nicholas
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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.