Understanding the molecular properties of brain white matter and its role in mental health
Official title: The facts of the matter: decoding the molecular properties of brain white matter using cell-type-specific quantitative proteomics
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-10685777 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how different cells in the brain work together to keep it healthy, especially focusing on the white matter, and it's for anyone interested in understanding more about brain health and conditions that affect it.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $1,377,516 |
| NIH project number | 1DP2NS136873-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10685777 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals experiencing mental health disorders or neurological conditions that may be linked to glial cell dysfunction.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with purely structural brain disorders unrelated to glial cell function may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the molecular characteristics of brain white matter, focusing on the interactions between neurons and glial cells, which are crucial for brain function. By utilizing advanced techniques like proximity-based in vivo quantitative proteomics, the study aims to uncover the specific roles of different glial cell types in maintaining healthy brain activity and their involvement in neurological disorders. The research seeks to overcome existing technical challenges that limit our understanding of white matter compared to gray matter, ultimately aiming to enhance our knowledge of brain development and function.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new insights into the biological mechanisms underlying mental health disorders, potentially informing better treatment strategies.
How similar studies have gone: While the study of glial cells has been explored, the specific focus on white matter using this novel proteomic approach is relatively untested, indicating a potential for groundbreaking findings.
Where this research is happening
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Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Baldwin, Katherine Therese — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Baldwin, Katherine Therese
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.