Understanding how synaptic dysfunction contributes to mental disorders
Official title: Molecular dissection of synaptic dysfunction in mental disorders
Funded at University of Massachusetts Amherst · NIH-10767812 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how problems with brain connections might contribute to conditions like autism and schizophrenia, using special techniques to create brain cells from patients' own stem cells, with the hope of finding new ways to help improve mental health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Massachusetts Amherst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hadley, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2020 |
| Project end | January 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $443,052 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH122519-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10767812 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals with autism spectrum disorders or schizophrenia, particularly those with specific genetic mutations related to synaptic dysfunction.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with mental disorders not associated with synaptic dysfunction or those without the relevant genetic mutations may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of synaptic dysfunction in mental disorders like autism and schizophrenia by using advanced genetic techniques. The team is developing a human neuronal model that incorporates patient-derived stem cells to study how specific genetic mutations affect synapse development and function. By examining the interactions between key proteins involved in synaptic signaling, the research aims to uncover the mechanisms that lead to abnormal neuronal networks associated with these disorders. This approach could provide insights into potential therapeutic targets for improving mental health outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that address the underlying causes of mental disorders, improving the quality of life for affected individuals.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in understanding synaptic dysfunction in mental disorders, indicating that this approach has the potential for significant breakthroughs.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Hadley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pak, Changhui — University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Study coordinator: Pak, Changhui
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Personalized chatbot to help community health workers deliver interpersonal counseling in Mozambique
A low-cost, chatbot-assisted program in Mozambique helps community health workers provide better interpersonal counseling for common mental disorders.
-
Stepped mental health care within HIV services for Mozambican youth living with HIV
A new approach tests how to integrate mental health care into HIV services for young people living with HIV in Mozambique using a stepped-care model.
-
Reducing diagnostic differences to keep mental health patients safer
A nationwide project at RAND aims to harmonize how clinicians diagnose mental disorders to prevent misdiagnoses and reduce harm from wrong medications.
-
Integrated peer-delivered mental health and HIV support for Mozambican youth with HIV
A new program tests a stepped-care model where peers help deliver mental health and HIV care to Mozambican youth living with HIV.
-
Causes and consequences of mental disorders: how parents shape their children
A parent-focused study uses genetic and environmental data to understand how parental traits influence children’s mental health and behavior.
-
Early Life Adversity and Brain Development in Children at Risk for Mental Disorders
This project follows children from birth to age 8 to understand how early social disadvantage and immune and gut health relate to brain development and later mental health risk.
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.