Understanding how stress affects brain cells and behavior
Official title: Norepinephrine-sensing habenular microglia and stress-related behaviors
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-11068748 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how stress affects certain brain cells and their connection to feelings of anxiety and depression, with the hope of finding new ways to understand and help people dealing with stress-related issues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship 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 | November 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $74,284 |
| NIH project number | 1F32MH136726-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11068748 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals aged 21 and older who experience anxiety or depression related to stress.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not experience stress-related behavioral issues or are under 21 years old may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of microglia, a type of brain cell, in how stress influences the activity of neurons in the lateral habenula, a brain region linked to anxiety and depression. By studying how norepinephrine, a stress-related chemical, affects these microglia, the research aims to uncover mechanisms that lead to stress-related behavioral changes. The approach includes advanced techniques like single-cell RNA sequencing to analyze cellular responses in animal models. The ultimate goal is to better understand the biological underpinnings of stress-related disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments for anxiety and depression by targeting the interactions between stress, microglia, and neuronal activity.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in understanding the role of microglia in stress responses, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Corona, Alberto — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Corona, Alberto
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Improving Breast Cancer Guideline Adherence in Nigeria
Aimed at helping doctors in Nigeria follow international guideline-based breast cancer care to improve outcomes for women with breast cancer.
-
Genetically Validated PCOS Subtypes for Better Diagnosis and Risk Stratification
Aimed at women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), this project uses genetic data and patient characteristics to define distinct PCOS subtypes and improve how we diagnose and estimate risk.
-
Closed-loop control of interneuron timing to influence seizures and memory in epilepsy
A study tests a brain-quieting system that uses light to precisely time certain brain cells in epilepsy-prone mice to see if this can lessen seizures and improve memory.
-
Understanding why some brain regions and cells accumulate tau in Alzheimer’s and related diseases
Researchers are studying why certain brain areas and neuron types accumulate tau protein in Alzheimer’s and related conditions, and how this leads to brain changes and symptoms.
-
Improving blood flow after stroke by breaking down NETs
Aims to see if breaking down neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) after an ischemic stroke can improve blood flow and reduce brain injury in patients.
-
Aging and brain injury connection: learning how late-life TBI relates to Alzheimer’s and related dementias
This grant looks at whether traumatic brain injuries in people 65 and older are linked to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, using a large, harmonized set of long-term aging studies.
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.