VIP signaling in the brain’s learning circuits
Official title: VIP Signaling Mechanisms in Thalamocortical Circuit Plasticity and Learning
Funded at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary · NIH-11343861 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how a brain chemical called VIP helps the auditory cortex change when we learn new sounds.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | May 14, 2026 |
| Project end | February 28, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $452,713 |
| NIH project number | 1R01NS148386-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11343861 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with interest in hearing and brain plasticity research or patients who may benefit from future therapies that modulate VIP signaling.
✕Less likely to help
People without sensory learning or auditory processing concerns may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
In this study, researchers will examine how VIP signals in the auditory cortex influence learning-related brain plasticity. They will use advanced techniques in mice to watch VIP activity during sound learning and to see how this affects thalamus-to-cortex connections. The team will combine electrophysiology, fiber photometry with a VIP sensor, and two-photon imaging to map the timing and impact of VIP release. By manipulating VIP signaling in living animals, they aim to see how these signals shape neural circuits during learning.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal targets for therapies to enhance learning and recovery after auditory or brain injuries.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has linked VIP signaling to cortical excitability, with promising mechanistic insights in animal models.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Takesian, Anne E — Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
- Study coordinator: Takesian, Anne E
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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.