Understanding why some adult brains have lots of genetic changes
Official title: Uncovering the origin of hypermutability in adult brains
Funded at Mayo Clinic Rochester · NIH-11466054 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying why some people’s brain cells accumulate mosaic genetic changes as they age, which might influence brain diseases or cancer risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | November 15, 2023 |
| Project end | October 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2027 |
| Award (this year) | $843,604 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH131623-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11466054 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals whose brain tissue or samples are available for study, especially older adults with existing samples or consent for research on brain mutations.
✕Less likely to help
People without access to brain tissue samples or those not contributing relevant samples may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at why certain brain cells develop many mutations over time and how this mosaicism relates to aging and brain conditions. It expands the group of brains studied to confirm where these mutations come from in the brain’s development and aging process. The study will use brain tissue samples to map mutation patterns across regions and ages, aiming to pinpoint origin(s) of hypermutability. If successful, it could clarify whether these brain mutations contribute to neuropsychiatric or neurodegenerative diseases and cancer risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could improve understanding of brain aging and diseases, potentially guiding future diagnostics or therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work showed a detectable hypermutability in adult brains, and this study aims to expand and confirm those findings.
Where this research is happening
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Mayo Clinic Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Abyzov, Alexej — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Abyzov, Alexej
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.