What the amygdala does as kids grow up
Official title: Function of the paralaminar amygdala from adolescence to adulthood
Funded at Children's Research Institute · NIH-11342945 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study aims to understand how a part of the brain called the amygdala changes from adolescence into adulthood and how this affects social and emotional behavior in young people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $654,005 |
| NIH project number | 1R01MH144267-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11342945 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Candidates include youth and adults dealing with ASD or related emotional-social challenges, and anyone interested in brain development.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals without concerns about adolescence-related brain development may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at a special group of immature neurons in the amygdala that mature during adolescence and how they influence social and emotional development. Researchers will use mouse models to study these neurons and relate findings to what happens in humans, especially in relation to autism and early-life stress. The goal is to map how these late-maturing neurons contribute to brain circuits during the transition to adulthood. By understanding this biology, the research could point to new ways to support teens and young adults who experience social or emotional challenges.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Insights into brain development could inform future strategies to support social and emotional health during adolescence and early adulthood.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that amygdala development and late-maturing neurons influence behavior, supporting potential relevance of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Children's Research Institute
Washington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Corbin, Joshua G — Children's Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Corbin, Joshua G
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Collaborative Pediatric Critical Care Research Network: personalized care for septic kids
A nationwide network is testing personalized treatment approaches for children with sepsis-related organ failure to improve outcomes.
-
NextGen CAR-T for childhood solid cancers
Aims to develop next-generation engineered T-cell therapies to treat pediatric solid tumors by identifying new targets and improving T-cell function.
-
Guided IDD research at DC partner centers to understand and improve developmental disorders in children
A $1.19 million NIH grant supports coordinated, translational research across four DC medical centers to uncover causes and develop new ways to prevent or lessen intellectual and developmental disabilities in children.
-
Viral Factors in the Prenatal Brain: How HEXB and Lysosomes Shape Baby Brain Health
This grant explores how a mother’s viral infection during pregnancy can affect a baby’s brain, focusing on a specific enzyme (HEXB) and lysosome function to understand and prevent brain injuries.
-
Opioid exposure in pregnancy: how it affects placental health and baby outcomes
A study looking at how opioids taken during pregnancy might change the placenta and impact the baby’s growth and health.
-
Enhanced detection of bone age anomalies to help diagnose childhood growth disorders
A new AI tool will help doctors look at left-hand bone-age X-rays to better diagnose growth disorders in children.
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.