Understanding the Brain's Support Structure and How It Changes
Revealing the extensive structural features and regulatory process of the brain’s ECM
This project looks at the brain's support network, called the extracellular matrix, to see how it helps brain cells work and how it changes with experience.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11128670 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our brains have a special support network, like a scaffold, called the extracellular matrix (ECM), which is crucial for how our brain cells connect and behave. We don't fully understand how this brain ECM is built and how it changes over time or with new experiences. This project uses a new tool to get a closer look at these brain structures, especially the nets that surround brain cells. By studying how these nets are formed and regulated, we hope to learn more about their role in brain flexibility and overall brain function.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research does not directly involve patients, but future studies building on this knowledge might seek individuals with conditions affecting brain plasticity or behavior.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment or direct clinical intervention would not find direct benefit from this basic science project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could provide foundational knowledge about how the brain's structure influences conditions related to brain plasticity and behavior, potentially leading to new ways to address them.
How similar studies have performed: This project uses a novel probe and approach to study brain ECM, building on existing knowledge but exploring previously difficult-to-observe mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
Salt Lake City, United States
- Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah — Salt Lake City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Park, Sung Jin — Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Park, Sung Jin
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 below.